The team arrives early so that Alex can swing by Piper's teachers' offices and get approval to be inside the classroom as well as quickly outline what Piper has been through. She has a Dr's note as well as one from Bill and a request to make a slight change in security. Piper of course in clinging to Alex and doesn't speak unless spoken to.

With approvals in order, Alex stations herself as close to Piper as possible without being in anyone's way. Piper periodically looks towards Alex to reassure herself that her Al is still close. She does manage to take notes and somewhat concentrate on the lecture. After each class she clings to Alex for dear life.

Piper doesn't let the guys of her team near her unless it is absolutely needed, After they failed her in the Polly situation, she simply doesn't trust them. She's thus far played this off towards Alex, not knowing if she'd trust new guys any more than the current ones.

Diane comes for a visit a week and a half later. Alex picks her up from the airport. Piper is working on a big paper so doesn't cause a fuss. She likes Diane and can't wait to see her.

"Hey Mom, glad you could come see me."

"Where is your blonde anyways?"

"She's got a ton of projects and papers to knock out. She surprisingly let me go without freakin out. That's a big deal usually she either clings to me or starts pouting if I'm out of her sight line."

"How do you get time for yourself?"

"I don't really. If I'm cooking she's in the next room watching me. If I am in my office too long she wanders in there. She doesn't disturb what I'm doing, but it makes me aware that she's waiting for my attention."

"Mom can I drop you off at the apartment so I can do some grocery shopping. Pipes is still iffy about touch even around her brother, so wait on her for touch."

"Okay, no problem Alex."

"Call me if there's any problems or Pipes starts freaking out. Love ya Mom."

Diane kisses her daughter on the cheek and then drags her luggage to the apartment and knocks on the door.

"Hey Piper, its so good to see you without the hospital setting."

"Did you visit while I was out of it? I don't recall seeing you there."

"No, you were still asleep at the time. Alex was getting worried that you hadn't moved or opened your eyes yet."

"Sorry I missed you. Alex has been so incredibly wonderful to me through all of this. I'm trying real hard to not need Alex in my peripheral vision, but sometimes my nerves won't allow that."

"Have you thought about talking to someone familiar with trauma or even a PTSD professional?"

"No. I don't think I could handle that anytime soon." Piper has refused, even though Alex has volunteered to go with her in the counselors office.

"Why is that Piper?"

Piper frowns and seems to have a hard time getting out what she wants to say, getting increasingly frustrated with herself.

After a long sigh, Piper looks Diane I the eyes. "I know Alex wants me to be able to trust and feel comfortable with anyone besides herself. I just don't. Even my younger brother who I love to death or my Dad."

"Do I make you uncomfortable?"

"No. Hmmmm that's odd. Maybe its a Vause thing, an unexplainable something that puts me at ease."

"Well I'm glad. I wanna give you a hug, but only if it's something you feel up for."

Piper again stares at Diane, deciding if she's ready. Her face lights up with a bright smile as she walks over to Diane and gives her a hug. Diane reciprocates and Piper relaxes into the arms of the second woman she loves so much."

Diane decides to offer comfort until Piper moves away. "How is college going? Have you been able to catch up on everything?"

Piper moves to sit next to Diane and rests her head on the older woman. "The first few days were about getting caught up. Then it was all about papers and projects. I have most of them done and should be studying for exams by tomorrow morning at the latest. Exams are Monday and Tuesday and all but one of my classes have finals. I also need to put my finishing touches on my media project. So the next few days will end up being a strong push with very little sleep."

"Wow, that sounds stressful."

"Once I get focused in I'm good to go. It's also helped me give Alex a little bit more time I hope. I go to her if I'm feeling off or when I wanna steal a kiss."

"Diane, if I grab my school stuff, could I continue sitting here with my head on your shoulder?"

"Of course dear."

"Okay be right back. Do you want anything to drink or snack on? I'm a bad host for not offering sooner."

"Whatever you have is fine with me."

Piper grabs her stuff carefully setting it on the coffee table. Then goes to the kitchen to fix something up for her and Diane to munch on. "Here ya go, a selection of things me and Alex snack on."

Alex walks in with a handful of bags heading straight for the kitchen. She glances into the living room and her hearts overflows with warmth. "My two favorite women all cozy. I love it."

"Al! come give me kisses."

"With pleasure." Alex smirks while giving a kissing attack to her love. Piper smiles the worlds biggest smile. "Any problems while I was gone?"

"Nope all is good baby."

Alex kisses her Mom on her forehead and cheek. "I have more groceries in the car, wanna help me Mom."

"Sure."

"Pipes is it okay that I steal your cuddle buddy for a few minutes?"

"Yeah Al. I'm feeling calmness today babe."

"Alright we won't be long. Then I'll start prepping for dinner later." She gives Piper a short but passionate kiss and leaves the apartment.

Piper blew kisses at Alex when she returned. Then dug even deeper into typing on her laptop. She was so zoned out that she didn't notice Alex beside her until she got pulled into Alex's arms. "Oh, hey babe. I was in a zone again wasn't I?"

"Yeah baby, but it looks like your knocking things out. What's left?"

"Once I finish this paper, its onto studying for my finals on Monday."

"I'm just gonna sit here awhile and soak up your warmth against you."

"I love it when you do that. What's on the menu tonight?"

"I was thinking I'd go pasta and garlic bread."

"Yum. No alfredo tonight babe, but anything else sounds excellent. Where'd your Mom go?"

"She went to watch tv, actually netflix as we don't own but one tv and she didn't want to distract you. It's been a couple of hours."

"Oh. I could have just taken my stuff back in my room. I didn't mean to inconvenience her."

"She's fine Pipes. I caught up on paperwork and was gonna read a few chapters before I start cooking." Alex grabs her book off the side table and slides her sock clad feet onto the table without disturbing Piper's workspace.

Some time later Diane wanders into the living room and is amused by Alex and Piper cuddled together but doing different things. "You two do everything together don't you."

"Yeah Mom that's usually true. A few more pages and I'll cook."

Piper moved to her room after dinner to give the Vauses time to talk while she studied.

"Mom you having a nice visit thus far?"

"You know I love spending time with you. And I still believe with all my heart that your blonde is perfect for you. Watching the way you interact fills me with warmth."

"Me to Mom, on both counts. How did I ever earn the love of that beautiful princess. She could have anyone but somehow I managed to win her precious heart."

"Alex you are beautiful, intelligent and have a gentle loving heart, of course your good enough. Piper loves you like your the absolute best thing in the entire world."

"I'm still overwhelmed that I almost lost her. And though Pipes swears I'm not to blame of the attack, I still feel guilty. What if I hadn't made her leave when I talked to Bill, though I could tell he didn't want her there. What if I'd done more than ask Colton to take her back. What if I double checked with the team before talking to Bill. I was so pissed with the team, I made Bill deal with them before I started cussing them out. But ultimately their failures go back too me because I was the one in charge."

"Baby, you are NOT responsible. You did everything you could do. Piper doesn't blame you and it sounds like her Dad doesn't either. You are holding onto to useless burdens, would've, could've, should've accomplishes nothing. It will only leave you miserable and that's no good to you or Piper."

"Your right, but it's hard not to."

"Alex just focus on the now and the future."

"Thanks for the pep talk Mom." They hug for a couple of minutes. "Oh, I forgot to ask if you'd like to have dinner with us, Bill, and maybe Cal. Bill has heard me and Pipes speak of you so often that he asked to meet you."

"That sounds fine by me."

"It will probably be within the next couple of days. Depending on the Chapmans schedule."

"I'm about to turn in and make my girlfriend join me. You're in the same room as last time. Feel free to watch tv, just keep the volume low. Love you Mom."

"Love you too baby."

Alex wakes up the next morning watching her adorable girlfriend sleep. She checks the time and decides to let Pipes sleep a little longer. She goes to start the coffee and pulls out what she'll need for bacon and french toast. When done she puts the food on warm and goes to check on her two favorite women. She find her Mom watching Netflix and tells her coffee and breakfast are ready when she is. Then sees the love her love life still sleeping. She starts Kissing her until those gorgeous blue eyes finally open. "Pipes coffee, bacon and french toast await you. Get dressed and come join us."

"Mmmmmm. I love you Al. Be there in a minute."

Piper joins the Vauses. "Hey Diane. How are you today?"

"I'm good Piper, of course I always am when I get to spend time with my girls."

Piper gives her a huge smile and a quick hug before getting some affection from Alex.

"Pipes, I told my Mom about dinner with your Dad. What day is gonna work for that?"

"I'll have two exams to study for the next two nights, so whenever is best with Dad. I'll let you call him Al."

After breakfast Piper returns to studying. Alex calls Bill and discovers tonight works for him. She invites him for 6p and finds out Cal will be joining him. She comes up with a menu with the help of her Mom.

"Mom is there anything you wanna do, anywhere you want to go today?"

"Don't you need to be around for Piper?"

"Yeah, but she's so caught up in studying that she might not notice."

"That's okay baby. As long as I'm with you I'm happy. And I get the feeling that she needs at least one of us here. I'm gonna watch some tv. You can read one of your books. Then we'll get things taken care of before the Chapmans arrive."

Alex checks on Piper a few times throughout the day for a little affection. Usually they'd be all over each other put Piper was deep into study mode. Alex reminded her when her Dad was coming over and Piper said to pull her out of her studies at least half and hour before then.

Alex and Diane get everything prepared and cooking. The table's set just waiting for everyone. Alex pulls Pipes away from her books so she could get ready. Alex notices that she's a bit antsy as the time draws nearer.

"Pipes come give me cuddle time." Piper complies. "Babe you seem less calm than the last day and half. Talk to me."

"Al, I don't know. I adore Cal and love my Dad for the most part, but I still feel uneasy, even if you are right beside me. Maybe because I can't hold you and kiss you the way I want."

"Oh love. Me and my Mom are both here for you so take small platonic comforts from us both. Though hold off on those amazing kisses unless you want to explain to your Dad."

The dinner went well everyone was cordial, there was plenty of laughter and embarrassing stories all around. Piper was asked about college then excused herself to study some more. Alex followed and calmed Piper down. Before returning to her guests. They ended up watching a tv show before Bill and Cal had to leave.

"Did you have a good time tonight Mom?"

"Yes. I liked them both, though Cal seems like a handful. Piper seemed quiet."

"Yeah, she's still uneasy around them and has no idea why. The next couple of days involve Piper's classes. You can come if you like and just have the guys drop you off or you can take my car and do your own thing. I'll be in the classrooms with Piper so I won't really have much time to spend with you. What do you prefer?"

"I might take your car and do a little shopping then."

"Okay see you later. I'm gonna attempt to get Pipes to go to bed."

Monday and Tuesday are normal College days for the team. Diane shows up one day and one of the guys show her the campus and recommend good nearby food places.