When Piper exited the shower, the sun was already up in the sky. Sunlight came through the French windows and poured the whole room with brightness. It was a mesmerising scene and Piper would have basked in the sunlight had it not been for Alex sitting there at the edge of bed with a bottle of wine.

"Alex." Piper said, surprised. "When did you come in? Why are-"

"You seem pretty sober." Alex said catching her eyes and taking a sip from the bottle. She was still in her black dress that she wore to the party.

"Yeah. I just took a shower." Piper replied. "But It's a little early to drink, don't you think?" Piper went on to grab the bottle out of Alex's hand. Piper strongly suspected that the reason behind Alex's behaviour must be related to Kubra. Alex laid back on the bed. Eyes closed.

"What happened in the meeting with Kubra? Did he ask you to do somethin-"

"Why?" Alex groaned, turning to face Piper who was getting into her jeans. "Were you rooting for him to ask me something that I'll refuse so that he can have an excuse to kill me?"

The way Alex said it, halted Piper in her movements. She had no idea were Alex was coming from or whatever the fuck happened after she left the party. Piper finished putting on a black t-shirt before going to the foot of the bed and nudging Alex.

"Where is that coming from?" Piper knelt down to take off Alex's shoes. But Alex refused to corporate and stretched her hand to grab the wine bottle from the bedside table. Piper removed it before Alex could reach it. "I think you have had too much. You are drunk, Jesus Alex-"

"Oh, no, no, no..." Alex laughed. "I am way too sober for this conversation."

"What does that mean?"

"I-I can't anymore. I can't do this anymore." Alex sat up. Her eyes red. Either from rage or from despair Piper couldn't tell.

"Can't do what?" Piper asked getting frustrated but not willing to quit.

"Pretending." Alex yelled. "That everything is fucking fine."

"Al." Piper didn't know what to say. Does Alex know already? About her being an agent. Or did Kubra tell her?

No, if Kubra knew then she wouldn't be alive.

"Kubra asked me to step down." Alex stood up. Standing directly in front of Piper. She is going to fight, oh boy. "Ordered me to take a few days off of cartel business."

"That's-That's a good thing, right?" Piper said with uncertainty.

"No, Pipes!" Alex snapped. "It is an international drug cartel. We don't get holidays and retirement. Either we die working or we get arrested. And this is the first time Kubra has asked someone to stop working. And I don't know Pipes, it feels like he wants to get fucking rid of me. Me, when I have worked so hard and for so long. Now he wants me to quit."

"You-you don't want to quit?"

"No. I want an explanation. Why the fuck would he ask me to leave? So I asked."

"What did he say?"

"Well that's funny, isn't it?" Alex said accusingly. "You know exactly why."

"What? How the fuck would I know?" Piper yelled back.

"Stop fucking lying." Alex's voice was so loud and aggressive that Piper had to take a step back. Alex knew. Fuck.

"Alex. I-I..."

"You're what, sorry?" Alex questioned.

"Al, you have to understand that I couldn't say a word even if I-"

"God. I was so stupid to believe that you actually love me. Rule number one, don't fall in love with a straight girl." Alex chuckled hurtfully.

"Don't be a fucking asshole, Alex-"

"Oh, I am being an asshole? I fucking trusted you. I-"

"Alex, I am sorry." Piper cried. "I didn't want to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt-"

"Well, congratulations, you did hurt me." Alex spat out angrily. "What, you thought I would be happy knowing that you were fucking my boss behind my back?"

"Al-" Piper stooped. "Wait, WHAT?"

"Kubra. He told everyone how you were all over him. A hot mess. Begging to be fucked."

"Alex! What the fuck?" Piper was shocked. "I never...I would never...he lied to you."

"Yeah? Piper just fucking stop your innocent act." Alex was seriously pissed off. "You were just apologising. And now you didn't do it."

"I was drunk, last night! He came on to me. And I ran the fuck away. I can't believe you trusted him over me. He fucking lied through his teeth and you believed him."

Alex stormed to her drawer, pulling them open, she grabbed a couple of photographs. She threw them on the bed. Piper's eyes focused on pictures of her and Stella sitting outside in that café in London after they had their first fight.

"Explain this, Piper." Alex said and hoped against hope that Piper will not lie.

"Where did you get these?" Piper eyes were still on the photographs.

"Kubra. He showed me these when I refused to believe him. He said it's not the first time you did something like this. Who is she?!"

"She is a friend, for god's sake." Piper tried to salvage whatever was left of her. If Alex didn't know yet then she could still find a way to get away. And maybe, just maybe it'll be easier leaving her. If she's angry then she can't be hurt.

"A fucking friend you never told me about. A friend who is suddenly in London at the exact same time we were?" Alex lashed out. "Now, unless you are super secret service agent, I don't know how do you explain this!"

Piper was at loss of words. There was no way out of this except the truth. But the truth at this point seemed way to risky to be told. The truth could solve all the misunderstanding but Piper was not sure what Alex's reaction would be to it. And how much would Alex be able to forgive.

Taking Piper's silence as an affirmation to the accusation, Alex sat down on the edge of the bed with a defeated sigh.

"Kubra said," Alex had her head in her hands and eyes downcast. "That girl was living in the same hotel in which we were. He wanted to be sure with you. Turned out, she was bragging about having fucked a blonde girl at the hotel bar. Did she? Did you?"

Piper knelt down in front of Alex. She tried to catch Alex's eyes but Alex refused to look back.

"Al, that is not the truth."

"I get it now." Alex looks up finally. Her eyes at the brink of tearing up. "Kubra wants me out of the picture."

"Al, it's not what you think. I-"

"Stop fucking lying already!" Alex said through gritted teeth. "At least have the decency to be subtle-"

Alex's phone rang up. Alex spared Piper a glance before going to pick up her phone. The way Alex reacted to seeing the caller peaked Piper's attention. She seemed surprised. Alex picked the call and walked outside in the balcony to talk leaving Piper to her own thoughts.

Piper considered the risk of telling Alex everything now. Alex would be angry. Oh, she would be furious but it wil spare her the heartbreak. But what if she questions the integrity of Piper's love. How much would she believe in Piper's intentions for the near future. Piper was dragged out of her thoughts when Alex came back into the room.

She looked devastated. Like someone had taken out all the life from her eyes. Piper instinctively walked towards her. Eyes curious and hands reaching to give comfort.

"Al..."

"My aunt called..." Alex said in a small voice. "She said Diane had a heart attack?" Alex looked at Piper like she was asking permission to go on, to make it real, to be weak. "She said, they are taking her to a hospital in the city. She is in intensive care right now and that she might not make it out." A tear rolled down on Alex's cheek.

"Oh, Alex." Piper wiped away her tears and hugged her tightly. Reassuring her that everything will be okay. That Diane will be okay. Piper, herself couldn't shake off the picture of Diane laughing at some rediculous joke last time they were there on Christmas.

"I have to go." Alex pulled away from Piper's embrace. "To New York." She moved fast to the cupboard and the drawers. "See if you can find two seats on the next plane. Any seat will do. We-"

"Alex, I can't go with you." Piper sates. Alex stood dead in her tracks beside the cupboard and Piper is just standing in the middle of the room looking down.

"What do you mea-" Alex stops. "Oh, right. You have to be with Kubra-"

"No. That's not-" Piper interrupted.

"The hotel lobby called while you were in the shower. They conformed your ticket to New York. Conveniently just before Kubra's flight. And your getaway bag, the one you're prepared is right where you left it." Alex said coldly like she didn't give a fuck anymore.

"Alex. You have to listen to me-" Piper tried one last time as Alex resumed her packing.

"Can you just fuck off already?" Alex shouted at her.

"No, I am not ready to give up yet." Piper said calmly. "I cannot tell you the truth. But trust me, I did not cheat on you. I love you and I will aways love you."

Alex glared at her.

"Pack your shit and go." Alex said through gritted teeth. "Get the fuck out of my sight. Please."

Piper solemnly nodded and picked up her already packed bag while Alex just stood there. Tears gathering up in the corners of her eyes but she's not letting them fall and the struggle is visible through the tightness of her jaw. Piper wants to kiss it away but she knows she doesn't deserve it. So, she stopped at the door of their hotel room and took a last glance at Alex.

I am sorry I am always headed in the wrong direction, sorry my life is one long stretch of running and you were something beautiful on the way. I am sorry love goes like a thunderclap over an empty house. I'm sorry about how cruel I was without trying to be.