Author's note: Thank you for everyone who wished me luck with school, and for those who were concerned, I'm not going to abandon this story. Sometimes the chapters just take longer to write because of all the stuff that's going on with life :) So, be prepared for irregular updates. Like this one, since when did I start publishing on Tuesdays? I just had to publish this immediately when I finished this... I'm not very good at sticking to the plan.

Anyway, enjoy!

It had been two weeks since Piper had asked Alex to be her girlfriend and Alex still caught herself smiling at random times when she thought about the blonde woman.

Now she was sitting in her office as she talked with her mom on the phone. They were talking about the latest news and Diane once again asked if she could finally meet Piper when they were officially together.

"Yeah, soon, I promise. She already said that she wants to meet you and her brother made a surprise visit a couple of days ago, so... But I'm waiting for her to bring it up because I don't want to pressure her since she is currently not speaking with her parents because they didn't take it very well that she's dating a woman", Alex sighed as she sent the preliminary layout to the art team.

"Oh, that's awful. I get it, no pressure."

"Great, thanks. But I got to go now, mom. Talk to you later."

"Okay, love you."

"Love you too", Alex replied before disconnected the call and checked her messages and emails. She had sent a couple of articles to Piper earlier that morning and was surprised to find out that Piper still hadn't responded anything since she usually is very quick to tell Alex about her ideas.

She got her answer soon enough when she heard a knock and very excited looking Piper stepped in carrying her camera bag on her shoulder.

"Piper, hi", Alex greeted somewhat quizzically.

"Hey", the photographer smiled before sat down on the chair in front of Alex's desk. "Are you busy?"

"Not really, I was just planning to start going through the articles some freelancers have sent me. Did you have time to read the articles I sent you?"

"Yes! That's why I'm here actually. I know you wouldn't accept the picture I'm suggesting, so I was hoping that if I came here, I would be able to persuade you."

Alex narrowed her eyes. "Why wouldn't I accept the picture you're suggesting?"

Piper bit her lip nervously as she took the camera out of its bag. "The tattoo article."

"What about it?"

The editor's eyes widened as she saw Piper looking at her right hand where the tattoo above her wrist was showing. "You want to photograph my tattoos?"

"Actually, I already have a perfect photo", Piper grinned as she offered Alex the cable, so she could connect it to her computer.

Piper started the camera before walked around the table to stand next to Alex. She clicked around for a few seconds before Alex saw a picture of herself. She was laying naked on a bed and Alex assumed that this was one of the pictures Piper had taken when she had spent the night a couple of weeks ago.

"No."

The blonde just laughed. "I knew you would say that and even I don't want to share this with the whole world. I'm usually all about sharing beautiful photos but this is something that is only for me to see."

"Okay then?"

Piper clicked again something, and another picture popped up. It was the same picture, but Piper had cropped it, so Alex's face wasn't showing and edited it, so the background was a bit blurry, but the tattoos were in focus. This picture was a lot of less intimate than the previous one and Alex was stunned that Piper could do it with only a couple of little changes.

"This one... I think this would be perfect", Piper said as glanced at Alex to check her reaction.

The other woman thought about it. She wasn't very comfortable with people knowing it was her, but the photo showed her backside and upper arms, so not many people had seen the tattoos that were there. Her mom and Nicky would know it was her, but she didn't think that anyone else would pay too much attention to the picture and who was in it.

"But if you don't want to, I can come up with something else."

"No, it's okay", Alex nodded. It really was a good picture. "It's a great picture, it would be a shame not to use it."

Piper's whole face lit up. "Awesome! Do you want that I'll email you the photo or do you want to just download it on your computer now?"

"I'm going to download it now", Alex replied as she clicked a couple of buttons. "Oh, I almost forgot. Some of us are going to hit the bar tonight, do you want to come?"

"Sure", Piper nodded before something came to her mind. "I've been meaning to ask, is Amanda cool with coworkers dating?"

Alex looked up from the computer grinning. "I keep forgetting that you started only a couple of months ago. Do you remember Mia and Lucas?"

"The editor and the man from the art team?" Piper asked as she wondered if she had remembered correctly.

"Yes! They were crushing after each other immediately when they met but they were both too shy to do anything. Amanda was probably the one who wanted to see them together the most. She always set their holidays at the same time if it was possible and made them work together in multiple projects and articles. She actually once called a meeting where she only told us that romantic relationships between coworkers were acceptable as long as the work maintained its level."

"That's pretty cool. Are they together now?"

"Yeah, they got together a little before summer. So, the point was, Amanda is cool about it as long as your photos maintain their level which I think we don't need to worry about."

"Okay, good."

"Has Leo reached out to you yet?" Alex asked suddenly.

"No, why?"

"He is going to interview this psychologist who studies dreams and wants his picture on the article. But if he hasn't contacted you, the interview isn't probably for any time soon."

Piper nodded as she started to unplug the camera. "Probably not but since I'm here I could go ask him about it. I'll see you tonight then?"

"Yeah, see you", Alex smiled as she gave a small kiss on Piper's lips.

The blonde smiled widely at her before went to look for Leo. He was the writer who usually wrote the interviews, so Piper had worked with him a couple of times as she had gone with him to photograph the interviewees.

Piper found the man sitting in her office and typing something furiously, so she knocked lightly on the open door to announce her presence.

"Piper!" Leo greeted smiling as he snapped his gaze up from the computer. "Just the person I wanted to talk to."

"I know", Piper grinned as she stepped further into the office. "Alex mentioned that you were going to interview someone?"

"Yes. Matthew Collins, a young psychologist. I'm meeting him next Friday at noon and I was going to ask if you had time to come with me?"

Piper nodded. "Yeah, that works fine." One of the perks of being a photographer was that you could decide yourself when you wanted to photograph, and you had rarely something scheduled.

"Alright, I'll email you the address soon."

"Sounds good", the photographer smiled before turned around to leave the office as Leo went back to his writing.

Alex and Piper stepped into the bar together and looked around for their coworkers. It didn't take them long to spot the loud group that had conquered one of the booths and they made their way toward them.

Piper was shocked to notice that this time Amanda had accompanied them as well and wondered if anyone felt weird that their boss had come to drink with them.

Everyone greeted the two of them as they sat down and they were immediately pulled into a heated discussion why the magazine's name was the Believer.

"I can't believe that you don't know it", Leo said as she pointed at Amanda.

"I might be the manager, but I didn't come up with the name! This magazine has been created ten years before I even came to work here."

"Still", Leo shook her head in feigned disappointment.

"Maybe the creator was a fan of Imagine Dragons?" Someone suggested.

"Dude, Believer came out only a couple of years ago."

"Oh right..."

"If you think about the topics the magazine publishes..." Piper started, and everyone's eyes turned to her. "You know, the problems that the world and people are facing, inspirational stories about survivors, interviews with professionals who are trying to make the world a better place. The magazine's main goal is to spread awareness, right? So, it would make sense that the creator thought that the world should be better, and they believed that someday, it would be. And that's why the name Believer... At least that's what I've always thought."

A stunned silence greeted Piper's answer and she started to become a little self-conscious before Amanda opened her mouth. "That's actually... not a bad theory."

"Certainly a lot better than any of ours", Leo nodded.

"I think that settles it", Mason nodded. "Great work Chapman, you've received yourself a release from a refill duty."

Alex chuckled as she got up. "Well, since Piper isn't an option anymore, Leo would you come to help me to carry the drinks?" she asked since he was sitting next to Alex and could most easily slide off the booth.

He groaned but got up from the booth and followed Alex toward the bar.

"So, Piper", Mia started conversationally. "What's going on between you and Alex?"

Piper's cheeks went red. "What do you mean?"

Everyone laughed.

"Honey, you two are quite obvious. But the question is that are you two together?"

The photographer's cheeks reddened even more as she answered. "Yeah, we are."

Suddenly everyone was launching questions at Piper at the same time before Amanda cleared her throat. "Let the poor girl answer. The most important question is: did you kiss before your first date?"

"Uhh... Yeah", Piper answered truthfully as she wondered why they all wanted to know.

"I knew it!" Mason exclaimed as he held his hand out. "Pay up."

Piper watched with wide eyes as a few people started looking for money. "You made a bet about us?!"

"Hey, I also said that they were going to kiss before the date", Amanda intervened as she looked pointedly at Mason.

"Okay, yeah", Mason nodded as she handed Amanda half of the money everyone had given him.

"Seriously? You were betting if would kiss before we had our first date?" Piper repeated with a slightly louder voice.

"Oh yeah, we do it all the time", Mason shrugged like it wasn't a big deal and Piper didn't know if she should feel uncomfortable that they had made a bet about her relationship with Alex or just enjoy the fact that there was such a great atmosphere.

"What's going on here?" Alex asked as they came back to the table with the drinks.

"They made a bet if we kissed before our first date", Piper explained with a small pout.

Alex just laughed. "And I'm positive that that wasn't the only bet they made."

"You would be right", Mia nodded. "Who kissed who?"

"Wouldn't you like to know", Alex smirked as she sat down.

"Alex! Don't tease us."

"Piper kissed me."

Once again Piper found all the eyes staring at her with surprised faces. All but Mia's who was proudly holding her hand in the air. "I told you guys Alex would wait for her to make the first move. Pay up."

Everyone paid Mia since she had apparently been the only one who hadn't thought that Alex would make the first move.

"Okay, were those all or do you have more bets to sort out?" Alex asked amused.

"Nope, that was all."

They asked a couple of more questions before the conversation moved to other topics like taxes and different kind of things people are struggling with.

It was all going well until it was Piper's turn to get refills. Alex noticed immediately that the bartender, good looking young man took an interest in Piper, but she forced herself to stay in the booth.

Alex watched as the man said something to Piper which made her blush as she looked sheepishly at her hands, and jealousy surged inside her. Making Piper flustered was her thing.

The editor had had enough when she saw the man writing something on a napkin before giving it to Piper who put it in her back pocket. "I'm going to help Piper with the drinks", she announced before made her way toward the bar.

When Alex was close enough, she wrapped her arms possessively around Piper's waist. "Hey. I just came to check where the drinks lingered", she said as she glared at the bartender.

His smile dropped and he quickly turned around to get their drinks.

"Oh, Alex. I was just chatting with Michael here."

"Oh, were you now", Alex almost snarled as she tried not to be annoyed that Piper didn't even seem to notice what had been going on.

"Here you go", the bartender placed the drinks in front of them before hurriedly went to serve other customers.

Piper turned around to look at Alex when she heard the odd tone. "Are you okay?"

"Peachy. I want to talk to you after we have taken these drinks to the table. Privately."

"Okay..."

They carried each half of the drinks and placed them on their table before Alex started to lead Piper outside with a quick 'We'll be back soon'.

"What's going on?" Piper asked once they were outside of the bar.

Alex turned to face her with narrowed eyes. "You really don't know?"

"No! You're acting weird."

"Did you even realize that guy was flirting with you?"

Piper's eyebrows shot up. "Is that what this is about?"

"Yes, that's what this is about! Why didn't you tell him you had a girlfriend?"

"I didn't know I was supposed to! So, random strangers are allowed to flirt with you as much as they like but when I'm in question, I should turn down everyone who tries to talk to me?" Piper asked with a raised voice, her temper getting the better of her.

"We weren't together back then", Alex gritted her teeth.

"He was being friendly, Alex. Yeah, maybe he flirted a bit here and there but so what? I didn't flirt back, so why are you this upset?"

Alex pinched the bridge of her nose because she knew she was being irrational, that she was making a mountain out of the molehill. "Just... why did you take his number?"

Piper's demeanor softened as she took the napkin out of her pocket. "This? I was just trying to be friendly. I didn't want him to feel embarrassed by not taking it. I never had any intentions to use it", she reassured as she dropped it in the trash can.

Alex felt a bit better. "I'm sorry. I was being stupid."

The photographer took Alex's hands in her own. "What is this really about Alex? Are you still afraid that I'm going to run away with some handsome guy?"

Alex felt guilty when she heard the hurt in Piper's voice. "I'm sorry. I want to trust you and deep down I know you would never do anything like that but I just..." Alex exhaled slowly as she tried to think fitting words.

"Is this just because of the Nicky and Lorna's situation or is there something else why you're not trusting me?"

The editor lowered her forehead to rest on Piper's shoulder as she started talking. "I dated this woman, Shannon, a few years ago..." Alex started as she felt Piper gently start stroking her hair. "I thought we loved each other... but apparently she didn't. I found her fucking some dude in our bed when she thought I was working."

"I'm so sorry Alex", Piper responded as she wrapped her arms around Alex's shoulders. "That's terrible. I get why you're hesitant to trust me, but I need you to know that I would never do anything like that."

"What about when you were with Larry? Are you saying you didn't have any feelings for me before you broke up with him?" Alex asked a bit harshly as she lifted her head.

"Obviously I did", Piper admitted with a pained voice. "I found you attractive the moment we met, and just... something was pulling me toward you. I can't control my feelings, Alex, but I can control my actions. I didn't do anything before I had broken up with Larry, did I?"

"No... I guess you didn't" the other woman sighed, knowing that Piper was right.

"Just... what can I do to get you to trust me?" The photographer asked desperately.

"I'm sorry, I don't think there's anything you can do... It just takes time. I didn't even realize that I had some kind of trust issues. I guess you're the first person I'm really serious with after what happened with her."

Piper looked sadly at Alex. It was heartbreaking to see usually so confident Alex being so insecure about this. "I get it. You're just protecting yourself."

"In a way, I do trust you, but-"

"Shhh, don't worry about it", Piper reassured as she gently cupped Alex's face. "From now on, I'm going to remind you every chance I get that I'm yours. Only yours", she said as she gently kissed the other woman's lips.

Alex felt a jolt of desire surge through her at those words and she pulled back. "Say it again."

"I'm yours, Alex Vause."

This time it was Alex who connected their lips into a passionate kiss and Piper tangled her fingers into Alex's hair to keep her in place.

"We should probably get back", Piper whispered as they broke apart.

"Yeah, you're right. But when we get back to our apartments, you can properly show me whose you are."

After that, they went back to their table and if anyone had wondered where they went to, no one commented anything. They managed to last half an hour before they put some money on the table and excused themselves.

The idea Alex had planted into both of their heads made them both impatient and restless, and they couldn't wait to get back, so they could execute Alex's plans.

Let's just say that they didn't even make it to the apartment...

Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you thought :) Hopefully I'll be able to update soon again!

- Iina