Author's note: Look at me being on time for once :D This chapter is a pretty long one and I was a little unsure of this but hopefully you'll enjoy!

Alex woke up when she felt a weight moving on top of her and a smile spread on her lips after she realized who was sleeping half on top of her. She kept her eyes closed as she thought back to last night. It had been perfect.

With anyone else, Alex would have expected the night end to sex, but she really meant what she had said and didn't mind waiting. After a little while, she finally opened her eyes to look at the sleeping blonde who was using Alex's breasts as a pillow. Piper looked so young and beautiful and Alex could get used to waking up next to her. Or under her. Luckily it was Saturday, so she didn't need to be at the office today.

"Why are you staring at me?" Piper mumbled with her eyes still closed.

"Because you're cute."

Piper rolled off Alex and buried her face to a pillow. "I'm not. I just woke up. I look like a mess."

Alex chuckled before repeated: "Cute."

They both heard a phone ring outside of the bedroom and Piper groaned when she recognized her ringtone.

"What time is it?" Piper asked as she reluctantly got out of the bed.

"No idea", the other woman responded as she appreciated how Piper looked just in panties and in her T-shirt.

The blonde glared at Alex half-heartedly before went out of the bedroom to look for her phone. It was still in her purse and the first thing she did when she got the phone in her hand was checking the clock. It was already a few minutes to nine and Piper was surprised that she hadn't woken up earlier.

"Hello."

"Piper! Good morning", Carol greeted cheerily.

"Morning mom", Piper replied as she yawned.

"Oh, did I wake you up? I thought that you'd be up already by now. I'm sorry."

"No, no. I just woke up before you called, it went a little late last night", Piper explained as she watched Alex to exit the bedroom. She hadn't put on any clothes and was in a similar state as Piper: panties and a loose T-shirt.

"Late with what?" Carol inquired, always wanting to know what was going on in her daughter's life.

Alex walked to Piper and gave a quick kiss on her cheek. "Good morning."

"Good morning", Piper whispered back.

"Late with what?" Carol repeated, sounding almost demanding.

"Oh, uhh... I had a date", the photographer revealed as she watched Alex to go to the bathroom.

"A date? Isn't it a little too soon?"

Piper started to become annoyed. "No, it isn't."

"But Piper, Larry was a good guy and-"

"Mom, stop. I know he was... But Larry just wasn't the right guy for me."

Carol sighed, surprisingly leaving the topic. "Okay then. So, who is this lucky guy?"

Piper bit her lip, she knew she couldn't hide Alex forever, and she didn't even want to. If Alex would end up being her girlfriend, she definitely didn't want to act like the typical straight girl and hide their relationship just because it was with a woman. But she didn't know if it was wise to say anything this early. But on the other hand, her parents would probably need time to process news like that and then when they would finally meet Alex, they would have hopefully got over the fact that Piper's new partner was a woman and Alex didn't need to deal with that.

"Well... she is actually a woman."

Piper was greeted with stunned silence after that confession, and suddenly she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear her mother's reaction, so she rushed to end the call. "But I got to go now, work stuff. Talk to you later, bye!"

Piper sighed as switched her phone to silent and put it back into her purse. She actually had no idea what her mother's reaction would be, and she wasn't very eager to find out. Piper walked to the bathroom door and knocked when she heard that Alex was in a shower.

"It's open if you want to join me."

Piper shook her head smiling as she tried not to picture what Alex looked like when she was showering. She however opened the door a little bit, so she didn't need to shout. "I'll go quickly to my place to shower and change my clothes and then we can go to breakfast."

"Okay, but don't stay too long. I need my coffee."

After about twenty minutes, Alex heard a knock on her door. She had dried her hair, done a light make-up and put on jeans and a fresh T-shirt. When she opened the door, Alex noticed that Piper had decided to wear jean shorts with a lavender-colored T-shirt. She looked good, as always.

"Well, hello there. You ready to go?"

"Yeah", Piper smiled as she adjusted the camera bag that was hanging on her shoulder. She wouldn't probably need her camera, but she liked to be prepared.

Alex grabbed her bag where she had put her laptop and other things she needed before stepping out of the apartment.

They decided to go to near café whither was only a five-minute walk. Alex ordered a bacon omelet and an espresso for herself and insisted paying Piper's order as well. The other woman agreed after a little persuasion and ordered a filled croissant with a caramel latte.

When they had got their orders and Alex had paid for them, they went to sit on the table and talked about some random topics as they ate their breakfasts.

After they had eaten, Alex dug out her laptop and started to look out for the articles. She quickly sent them to Piper, so she could read them later if she wanted, but since they were here together, the photographer could just read them from her laptop.

Alex had received a rather interesting article from a freelance writer and had pondered for a while if they should publish the article or not. At last, she decided to approve the article because it was about an important topic. Now she only wanted to know how Piper would react to it.

Alex drank the rest of her coffee as she turned her laptop, so Piper could read. "I'm going to get another cup. Do you want?"

Piper glanced at her now empty coffee mug before smiled at Alex. "Sure, thanks."

As Alex left the table, Piper started to read the article. It was about not appreciating things enough before you lose them. She furrowed her eyebrows because that writing style looked very familiar. Piper read the whole article before started to search for the writer's name. It wasn't long before she found what she was looking for: Larry Bloom.

Piper just sat there stunned until Alex returned with two cups of fresh coffee. "So, what did you think?"

"You know who wrote this, right?"

"I do", Alex nodded grinning. "Not hard to figure out what he was writing about. Or rather who."

"Right... Why did you show me this?"

"Well, firstly, he obviously wanted you to see this when he sent this to our magazine and secondly... you need to take a suitable picture."

"What? Are you serious?" Piper asked dumbfounded.

"You don't think it's good enough for our magazine?"

"No, I just... I guess I'm a little surprised that you wanted to take his article."

Alex nodded. "Trust me, I'm surprised too. But it was a decent article and an important topic, exactly the kind that our magazine would publish. I just have to rephrase a few sentences and then it should be perfect. I'm not going to waste that just because I'm not fond of the writer."

Piper was amazed how professional Alex was and admired her just a little bit more. "Yeah, okay. That makes sense."

"How do you feel about it?"

"Well... I guess I'm happy that our break-up inspired him finally to write something that he really wanted to write about, you know? I mean previously his writing was almost forced because he didn't know what he wanted to write and then just wrote about topics he thought the magazine would want."

"Yeah, that's probably why this article was so much better than his last ones", Alex nodded.

"Last ones?"

"I might have investigated a little bit at some point and turned out, he has sent us at least six of his articles", Alex chuckled.

Piper shook her head amusedly. "Of course he did. I should probably talk to him."

The other woman didn't seem very pleased but nodded nevertheless. "That's probably for the best. I'm going to message to him and ask if he wants to suggest a photo. Although, if he asks for a picture of you, I might have to reconsider my decision to publish the article."

The photographer laughed at that. "I'm sure that won't happen."

"I'm not", Alex shook her head before her eyes started to twinkle mischievously. "Can we meet him? I'd love to see his face when he realizes that your bitchy neighbor is the same person who decides if his articles will make it to the magazine or not."

Piper chuckled. "You're a child."

"Guilty as charged", Alex nodded proudly before turned her laptop back and started typing. "But since I am the managing editor, I'll just ask if he wants to join us when we discuss the photo. And then I'll be a couple of minutes late, so you have time to talk to him", she added as an afterthought.

Piper nodded gratefully. She really did need to talk to Larry. "Alright then. Was that the only one or did you have more?"

"Yeah, I have more. Wait a second."

The blonde sipped her latte and patiently waited as Alex finished the email. Soon Alex turned the laptop back, so Piper could read the screen and there was another article.

It was about rushing, how it increased the stress levels and the importance of slowing down. When she had read the whole article, Piper's eyes widened as she remembered the photos she had taken about a month ago. "Wait, I think I have already a suitable photo for this one."

Alex raised her eyebrow curiously.

"Do you mind?" Piper asked as she took her camera out of the bag and motioned toward Alex's laptop.

"Not at all. Go ahead."

Piper started her camera as she looked for the cable she always carried in her camera bag. In her mind, she thanked her past self for taking the camera with her. When the camera was ready, Piper connected it to the laptop with the cable and quickly started to look for the photos.

After a while, Piper turned the laptop so Alex could see four different photos that were all about an older woman who was carving something while sitting calmly in the middle of rushing people.

"You think one of them would fit?" Piper asked hopefully.

Alex glanced at her amusedly. "It's funny how you always ask my opinion like I would know better what kind of photo would fit."

"Well, I was told very clearly that you were the one who decides what kind of photo will end up to the magazine."

"Amanda was just exaggerating. I mean I am the one who decides, but she downplayed how much your opinion affects my decision. And seeing as you're not one of those annoying, arrogant photographers who think I should approve every picture without even needing to look at them just because they have a degree in photography, I could just give you completely free hands."

Piper looked at Alex stunned. She knew that Alex thought that the photographer's opinion was the most important and Alex hadn't disapproved any of her pictures, but she was surprised that Alex trusted her that much.

"It's nice to hear that you trust my abilities", Piper said at last. "But I like working with you and hearing what you think."

"I know", Alex smirked before broke into a soft smile. "I like working with you too. And since you like hearing my opinion so much, I'm telling you that these are perfect for the article."

The blonde rolled her eyes affectionally at Alex's teasing.

Then Alex looked at the photos more carefully before turning the laptop, so both of them could see the screen and pointed at the last picture. "I think this one would be great. It shows well how tight and stressed the rushing people's faces are which conveys the article's message."

Piper nodded. "Agreed."

They talked a bit more about some non-work-related topics as they drank the rest of their coffees before made their way back to their apartments.

"I had a really good time last night and this morning", Alex said when Piper started to look for her keys.

"Me too", the blonde smiled widely.

Alex gave her a lingering kiss before grinning. "See you around."

Piper subconsciously touched her tingling lips as she watched Alex start to look for her own keys. "Yeah, see you."

They both went into their own apartments and Piper crashed down on her bed smiling uncontrollably as Alex went to answer the email she had gotten from Larry. She suggested a time and a place and waited for the confirmation from him before informed Piper.

[Alex] - We'll have the meeting with Larry on Monday at 3.00 p.m. Prepare yourself :P

Piper chuckled at Alex's message. She didn't know how Alex managed to be professional and childish at the same time.

[Piper] - Why did I agree to this?

[Piper] - Oh right. I didn't.

[Alex] - I offered you free hands, didn't I? Not my fault that you didn't take up my offer.

[Piper] - You offered me free hands after you had asked Larry if he wanted to meet us.

[Alex] - Don't act like you don't want to see his face as well when he realizes who I am.

[Piper] - Okay, maybe I want to see his face a little bit. I'll be ready.

[Alex] - Haha, I knew it!

Alex shook her head amusedly before sitting on her couch and dialing her mother's number. She had promised to update how the date went.

Piper was laying on her bed and looking at the ceiling thoughtfully as Polly paced around her apartment. It was Sunday and Piper hadn't had anything to do, so she had called her best friend and asked if she wanted to come to hang out and help her with a problem she had.

"Let me get this straight. You are afraid to have sex with her because you think she won't enjoy it?"

"I don't know! I just... I'm not sure what's holding me back, but I guess I'm a little bit afraid that I'm like really bad."

"Okay, then you're bad. She knows that it's your first time with a woman, and I'm sure she won't dump you if you're bad. In fact, I'm certain that she'd be more than happy to let you practice", Polly grinned but kept her voice low. They didn't want Alex, who was on the other side of the wall to hear their little conversation.

"I know! She's so understanding of everything. I guess I'm just still a bit scared that she'll change her mind when she is again reminded of the fact that I'm straight."

"From what you've told me... I wouldn't call you straight anymore", Polly laughed.

"I know that I'm being irrational, but I can't help it", Piper sighed, completely ignoring Polly's comment.

"What if you'd just talk to her? I bet she would offer better advice than me."

The photographer looked at her best friend. "Yeah, I probably should."

"And in my opinion... No sex is a better reason to break up than bad sex."

"That eased my mind a lot, thank you", Piper quipped sarcastically. "And we're not even together yet."

"Piper, you'll be fine! Stop worrying!"

"Okay, okay! I'll stop now", Piper took a deep breath. She wouldn't hesitate next time. It was all in her head, Alex really wouldn't mind if she was bad. Probably. No, she wouldn't. She would proudly teach Piper her own skills that were probably phenomenal.

"Earth to Piper!"

"What?"

"You were daydreaming", Polly said with raised eyebrows, knowing exactly where Piper's mind had wandered.

"Sorry", Piper smiled sheepishly.

[Piper] - Hey. I'd like to talk to you before the meeting, so do you want to come to the café a little earlier?

[Larry] - Hi. Sure, I can come a little early. I hope I didn't overstep with the article?

[Piper] - No, you didn't, don't worry. We'll see in a couple of hours.

[Larry] - Looking forward to it.

Piper closed the chat with Larry before opening one with Alex.

[Piper] - Hi! I messaged Larry and we're seeing before the meeting, so you don't have to come late and give a bad impression :)

[Alex] - How considerate of you :D Thanks!

Piper was sitting at the café, already sipping her coffee. This time she had taken an iced coffee as she waited for Larry to arrive. It was quarter to three and Piper didn't know when he would arrive. After all, she had only said 'a little earlier'.

She didn't need to think about that for long as the door chimed and Larry stepped inside looking around. When he spotted Piper, he smiled somewhat tensely before made his way toward the table she had picked.

Piper could only hope this wasn't going to be too awkward.

"Hi", Larry said as he reached the table.

"Hey."

"I'm going to quickly order a coffee."

"Sure", Piper nodded as she watched Larry take his wallet and make his way toward the counter.

After a couple of minutes, he was back with his coffee and sat on the seat opposite of Piper.

"So, how are you?" Larry asked.

"I'm good. What about you?"

"I'm great."

Piper tried to gauge if Larry was being honest or just putting a brave face. He didn't seem sad or otherways heartbroken and Piper was genuinely happy that the break-up wasn't too hard for him. "I guess congratulations are in order."

Larry smiled widely. "Thank you. I thought I was dreaming when I got the email from the managing editor."

"It was a great article."

"Does it disturb you that you know it's about you?"

Piper shook her head. "No. I'm glad that you finally wrote something you wanted."

Larry hummed. "Me too."

They sat in silence for a while that wasn't awkward but neither very comfortable.

"Have you moved on?" Larry asked suddenly.

Piper sighed. "I went on a date last weekend."

He looked a bit hurt that Piper had moved on so fast, it had only been a couple of weeks.

"I don't know what happened, Larry. I just didn't feel the same anymore. And I'm sorry that I let the relationship continue while you thought we were alright. I just hope you'll be able to move on quickly."

"Me too", Larry sighed but didn't have time to say anything else when someone joined them. He was surprised and a little bit annoyed when she noticed Piper's neighbor placed her purse on the free chair.

He furrowed his eyebrows as the woman smirked at her. "Nice to see you again Larry. I don't think I've ever introduced myself properly. I'm Alex Vause, the managing editor of the Believer magazine."

Larry's eyes widened as he blurted out. "That's you?"

"Yes", Alex said, obviously proud of catching Larry off the guard. "I see you two have already started without me, so I'll go quickly grab myself a coffee."

When Alex left the table, Larry turned his still wide eyes to Piper. "You never mentioned that your neighbor was the managing editor!"

Piper tried really hard not to show her amusement. "Sorry. I thought you knew."

"I'm pretty sure she hates me!"

"Her personal opinion of you doesn't matter right now because this is work and she's professional."

Larry looked at her little incredulously. "Right."

They waited as Alex paid for her coffee and made her way back to the table.

"So, Larry", Alex started as she sat on her chair and started to look for something from her purse. "We made a few changes to your article and I was going to send it to you so you could approve it but since we're here you can just check it out now."

"What kind of changes", Larry asked as she took the paper Alex was offering.

"We corrected a couple of grammatical errors and then rephrased a few sentences, so it would look better but that's it. We didn't change anything big, so it should be fine, but we need your approval because it's your article", the editor explained.

The writer nodded in understanding as he started to read the fixed article.

"Did you have any ideas?" Alex asked Piper this time.

"I do", Piper nodded. "The problem is that you can lose pretty much everything: people, animals, objects, etc. And the article doesn't focus on one thing but speaks generally about losing something important. The second problem is that it's quite hard to capture losing something in a picture without taking two pictures which would look tasteless and dumb."

"What about photographing a person to leave? Wouldn't that be manageable?" Alex asked.

"Yes, I was thinking about that too, but then I realized that a picture like that would immediately get the readers to think that the article is just about relationships between people which it's not. So, I was thinking about a picture that directly doesn't link to the article but still conveys the same message as the article."

"Interesting", Alex nodded approvingly. She was about to ask what kind of picture Piper had in mind when Larry gave her back the paper.

"Looks good to me."

Alex nodded as she put the article back into her purse. "What kind of photo did you think?"

"I was thinking about a shriveled flower. Everyone knows that it was once beautiful but shriveled when it wasn't appreciated or taken care of."

"Sounds good", Alex smiled, once again admiring Piper's creativity.

"Isn't it a little bit too dark?" Larry asked carefully.

Piper nodded. "That's a good point. I was also thinking about that because we definitely don't want the readers to be put off by a gloomy picture. But a photo of a shriveled flower doesn't have to be gloomy. I think I'll be able to change my camera settings, so the colors of the photo will be soft. Not too bright and happy and not too dark and sad. Or then I'll just edit it."

"Haven't you thought everything through", Alex grinned.

"Well, it is my job", Piper responded with a shit-eating grin.

The three of them talked a bit more about the article and the photo as they drank the rest of their coffees.

"Well, I should probably go back to the office", Alex said as she started to get up. "Piper, did you walk here?" The café was only about a mile from their apartment building, so Alex figured that Piper had most likely walked here.

"I did."

"Do you want a ride? I'll drive next to our apartment building anyway."

"Sure, thanks", Piper nodded smiling as she also got up. "Larry it was nice to see you and work with you."

"Likewise. Maybe we'll have another opportunity to work together in the future", Larry said as she glanced hesitantly at Alex.

"Keep up with our magazine standards and maybe you will", Alex smirked before they said goodbyes and she left the café with Piper.

"Well, you behaved surprisingly well", Piper commented as they made their way toward Alex's car.

Alex chuckled. "He isn't that bad now when he's not your boyfriend anymore. And he didn't try to win you back."

The blonde shook her head laughing. The meeting had gone surprisingly well, and Piper was happy to know that Larry wasn't trying to 'win her back'. Now she could wholly concentrate on the growing relationship between Alex and herself.

Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you thought, I'm always curious to know what you have to say or if there's something to improve :)

- Iina