1

Step two was fortunately easier than one. Piper just had to get close to Alex in a completely non-suspicious way and wait for Alex to come to her. Easy right? Five days after the first contact, Alex was again at the same bar with her group of friends. Piper casually walked up to the bar and ordered a beer.

She could sense Alex looking at her. She gathered a little courage and turned to catch Alex staring at her. Piper had worn a classy black halter neck dress with bare shoulders. It was proving to the right choice. She raised an eyebrow.

Alex smirked and walked towards her in slow, deliberate steps. She halted right in front of her.

"You look amazing, kid." Alex commented in slightly breathless voice.

"Your girlfriend think so too?" Piper quirked an eyebrow

"Jesus Christ. She's- she is not my girlfriend. I broke up like months ago."

"Is that so, Alex?" Piper took a swig of her beer.

"She did something, didn't she?" Alex asked apologetically.

"Tried to punch me. Followed me home. Put a bag of burning shit right in front of my door."

"Bag of burning shit!? Fuck!" Alex burst out laughing. Piper felt blessed to hear that sound of laughter. So she laughed along. They stopped when they both were out of breath. Piper could feel her cheeks reddening but she couldn't figure out whether it was because of the laughter or just the sheer presence of Alex.

Alex cleared her throat and stepped even closer. Piper's breath hitched.

"Look, Piper, I really like you. Like I really want to spend more time with you. If you want that too then maybe we could start something incredible. Here. Now."

"I would...I would really like that. Alex." Piper gasped as Alex pulled her closer. Their faces so close. Lips hesitant at first but then kissing with practiced symphony. And everything else just became a background.

2

At first it felt like they were both hiding things, holding back. Piper waited for Alex to open up. Relationships, even fake ones, needed time to build up trust and mutual understanding. Even though the lack of information bothered Piper, she didn't try to fill the silence. She waited. And it turned out to be the right decision.

Three weeks into their so called relationship, after a steamy love making session, they both are just there and they know it is time. A shy smile on Alex's lips. They are facing each other. Head buried in pillows in Alex's bed. Alex releases a sigh.

"Pipes..." Alex whispered. Pipes, that's what's Alex calls her. It feels personal. More intimate than any other nickname. She is just Pipes with Alex. Hers.

"Yeah, Al..." Piper tucked a strand of raven hair behind Alex's ear.

"My mother calls me that, you know." Alex said fondly.

"She does?" Piper smiled.

"Yeah." Alex smiled. "I love her, you know. She's incredible."

Piper collects these moments. So raw and honest. It's not an information that she'll share with the agency. It's an information that makes Alex more human, approachable, less of a target in Piper's mind. Alex is looking at her expectantly now. She is seeking approval. And Piper will give her that.

"She must be." Piper said. "I can only imagine. She raised someone like you. So beautiful, brave and strong." Piper punctuates it with a kiss on Alex's lips. Alex looks away.

"She doesn't know about this. This cartel business." Piper can sense the wetness in her voice even though Alex's eyes are upward now. Piper's hand finds her hands and she makes soothing circles with her thumb.

"She thinks I am an art dealer." Alex tries to laugh but it stops somewhere in her throat. "Do you think she'll forgive me for lying?"

Alex sounds so small that Piper has a sudden urge to kiss her worries away, to hold her and never let go. Alex is seeking reassurance. And Piper will give her that.

"Let's see, she would be mad. She would want answers. And she would probably slap your beautiful stupid face." Piper smiled. "But she'll forgive you. Because you're good, Alex. because she loves you. And she would always like to be a part of your life no matter what you do as long as you're good at your heart." Piper kisses her again. Alex chuckles.

"Thank you, Pipes" Alex said. "That was very cheesy."

"Shut up. You love cheesy."

"Yeah, I do."

That morning something changed between them. They were more at ease. Alex seemed more comfortable. And Piper was proud of being a good girlfriend. And when it was time, Alex walked her back to her apartment. In that walk back, they exchanged apartment keys. Kisses and promises. Piper wished, really wished that Alex would take her with her this time. She didn't.

3

Five weeks in the relationship and they find out that Alex's visits to the city are more frequent. She's here almost every weekend. With Piper. And Piper feels special knowing that. Alex can't tolerate the distance between them and neither can she.

Piper has doubts. She knows she is falling for her target. She shouldn't. It's unprofessional and risky. This could jeopardize the whole mission but any resistance to Alex's charm and all the attention is in vain.

The only thing keeping her at bay is the idea that Alex might be faking it too. Maybe this is what she does with all of her mules. Maybe this is an intricately designed trap for drug mules. But Piper knows, somewhere deep in her heart, everything between them is real. At least on Alex's side.

4

"You never talk about your parents." Alex asks, her hands deep in Piper's hair.

"There's nothing to talk about." Piper answers. Her eyes on the old battered copy of Wuthering Heights. Not reading.

They are in Piper's apartment. In her bed. Alex had arrived an hour ago with chinese takeout and a music tape. She is taking Piper to a party at some colleagues place. A success party. Alex wouldn't tell her anymore. This is the beginning of Piper's involvement. Piper wants to be a part of that life and she knows Alex wants it too.

Alex doesn't ask any further. Piper knows she needs to answer this. She can't dodge every question. She could lie, yes. But some part of her doesn't want to. She wants to be just as honest as Alex. She wants to open up just as much as Alex has.

"Well... my mother - she doesn't exactly approve of my lifestyle. The way I live. The people I love. She hates it. She wishes I could be more like her. Married to a man who would take care of me, you know that kinda stuff." Piper's voice is low and hesitant. Alex's eyes are soft and reassuring, telling her to go on. "And my dad, well, he is a neurosurgeon. He wanted me to be a doctor too. Like my brother Danny. I was a really good student. Finished high school earlier than most kids my age. But I never wanted to be like them. All I wanted was to be as far away from them as possible." Piper's eyes were tearing up and Alex kissed those tears away. Piper sat up. Her hand intertwined in Alex's.

"So, I got a degree in English literature." Piper continued. "My dad hated that. Hated that I would waste my talent like that. After that I just wanted to be a writer. Make it on my own, you know." That was a lie. She was recruited by the agency. Because she not only got an english degree but also Master's in Mathematics and physics. Piper loved being an agent. The power. Thrill. Authority. Being able to create new lives. Go to places. Away from her family.

Alex tugged on her hand. Pulled her closer. Their foreheads touching.

"Kiss me." Piper whispered.

Alex obeyed. Slow and gentle. Letting her know that she's loved. Cared for. But Piper's eyes are hungry. She wants to forget that she shared. She is scared that she just made all this a little bit more real. So she kisses back with predatory urgency. Frantic. Biting her lower lip. Hands travelling south.

Alex chuckled as they fell back on the bed. Piper on top of Alex. Then Alex rolled over making Piper land beside her.

"Pipes..." she whispered. "I... I want you to know that you are different for me."

"You're different too, Al. You have really pretty lips." Piper laughed.

"Shh..." Alex said. "You're different because... I love you."

"You do?" Piper asked with a coy smile. Caught so off-guard that she can't believe she heard right. How could she just lay there, confess her love and look so beautiful?

"Yeah, I do." Alex's smile is shy. Like she hadn't prepared for it. "I don't say that to everyone. You have to say it back."

"I love you too, Al."

Piper's answers instinctively. Like she has known it longer. It's scary saying it back. Scary cause it's real. But it's exciting. And it does something deep in her stomach. Never in a million years had she thought that she would love someone this deeply or someone will find her worthy of love.

She would come back to this moment probably sometime around midnight. She'll dissect it. Criticize herself for being unprofessional and vulnerable. But then she'll realise how vulnerable Alex herself was. How much courage it must have taken to say those words. How Alex's eyes had dropped in relief when Piper said it back.

But not now.

Now the only sensation in her body is happening down there. Alex's tongue sucking her inner thighs. Worshiping. Kissing. Murmuring I love yous. And Piper's vocabulary has reduced to fuck me, Jesus Alex, please, god, Jesus fucking Christ. And the truth has really set her free.

5

The day after Alex asked her to come with her, her team celebrated it at the agency. The mission has been a success so far. Soon enough Piper will be in Kubra's circle.

Caputo patted her back showing his appreciation.

"You know there are talks about placing a Special Agent in-charge, here in New York. And a few people suggested your name." He said off handedly.

"That's..."

"Hmm...everything is riding on this mission, Chapman. Balik is a game changer. Just get Vause and Balik. The agency will make sure you get a chair at the big guys table."

"Yes...thank you, sir. I really appreciate it."

"Don't fuck it up, kiddo."

"I won't, sir."

But she knew she had already fucked it up. She was irrevocably and undoubtedly in love with Alex.

Thanks to Piper being such a good liar, her anxiety was rewarded. Because when Alex asked her why she seemed so tense, Piper said she had a dinner with her parents. And Alex being the generous lover that she was, relieved all the stress on there on the marble kitchen counter. Piper chanted her name like she was addicted.

"Alex...Alex...fuck Alex!"

Piper gladly traded lust and pleasure. Her guilt safely tucked in a box that she'll not reopen anytime soon.

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Thank you guys for all the reviews. Please let me know what you think. I would really appreciate the support.

And as for the story, I am really trying to keep the updates consistent. Hoping to finish this before season 7 hits.