CHAPTER 31: Joke went too far?

Alex was done with her exams and she did really well. She was back at the chapman household alone whilst Piper and Carol were still at work. Cal and Nerie moved out right after Thanksgiving, so it was only the trio left. Alex decided to catch-up with Diane and fill her up on how her exams went.

…..PHONE CALL…

ALEX: Hey mom.

DIANE: Oh hi Ally cat. How are you dong my baby?

ALEX: I am fine thanks and you mom?

DIANE: I am good. So tell mama, how did you do on your exams?

ALEX: Well mom I failed two modules so I have to repeat them next year.

(Alex was doing her best not to laugh. She used the saddest voice she could master.)

DIANE: Oh Alley cat, I am sorry to hear that but not to worry. You will do great next time.

ALEX: Just kidding mom. I got A+ on all my modules except for one were I got an A-; still do not understand how but yeah.

DIANE: Oh you little… Fuck Alex you nearly gave me a heart attack and to think that I was still bus trying to get some shitty motherly advice about the dumbass lecturers not knowing their thing. Damn you Alex.

(Alex was laughing aloud and could not help but laugh even louder when her mother commented about shitty lecturers)

ALEX: Sorry ma I just could not help myself. I am just glad I am not close by or your shoe would have met my back.

DIANE: You know me too well. (Diane chuckled at this) However, I am happy for you Ally cat. I knew you could do it. I mean you take after me after all.

ALEX: Yeah, yeah no wonder I am this crazy. Thanks, though mom and I am glad I take after you. Do you think dad would have been proud of me?

(It is not everyday that Alex think of her father because her mother has taken such roles really well and Alex never felt void but she was curious sometimes.)

DIANE: Yes baby. You father would have been very proud of you.

ALEX: Thanks mom. I know I do not say this very often but I am grateful to you. You are the best mom I could ever ask for. I love you.

DIANE: I love you too baby. Okay now enough of this sappy shit. I mean, you are supposed to be badass right.

(Moreover, just like that, the mood was lightened and filled with banters and laughter.)

ALEX: So mom are you ready for your first ever trip to a place you had always wanted to visit?

DIANE: Yes baby. I cannot wait. I am already packed.

ALEX: lol mom the trip is in two weeks time. There is still enough time to pack. (Alex was smiling to herself while shaking her head left and right in amusement)

DIANE: Yeah well like you said, this is my first ever trip and I do not want to forget anything.

ALEX: Okay mom whatever you see. I have to go; Piper is back so we will talk soon. I love you.

DIANE: Okay please say hi to my future daughter in law. I love you too and tell her I lover her bye.

…END OF PHONE CALL…

Alex hung up and went on to meet Piper in the corridor by the door where Piper was still taking off her jacket. Alex had missed her fiancée and could not wait to see her but she could not help but chuckle at her mother's reaction from earlier on.

"Someone is in a happy mood. So, are you going to share what got you all smiley?" Piper said as she noticed Alex coming to meet her. They shared a kiss before Alex could respond to her.

"Hey baby. Well I was just telling my mom that I failed two modules and…" Piper interrupted Alex.

"Oh honey I am so sorry to hear that. What happened? Because I know its not you because you are a genius. What did those shitty bustards of lecturers do?" Piper was fuming and at the same time delicate with her lover and Alex just burst out laughing and nearly falling to the floor.

"What Alex this is not funny."

"No Pipes thing is Ma said the same thing and I was only kidding I didn't fail. I just wanted to hear mom's reaction and I got to say that it was just similar to yours," Alex said in between short breaths and she could not stop laughing.

"Wait, wait, wait, and let me get this straight. You lied about failing so you could hear how Diane would react. That is no funny Alex. I really thought you were telling the truth and I didn't even know how to react so I have an idea of how Diane is feeling or felt." Piper said now angry at her fiancée.

"Oh come on Pipes don't be mad. It was just a silly joke. I never meant any harm."

"Yeah well you did cause harm any way. So here is a joke for you, tonight you get the guestroom." Piper said and she was overreacting and she knows that but she was stressed about work so she took it out on Alex and now her ego and pride did not let her take her words back.

"What? Pipes that is unfair. It was just a joke." Too late, Piper was already gone to their room.

"Well at least I got a kiss" Sigh! This is going to be a long night for Alex. How did things escalate from a joke to sleeping in a cold guestroom alone? Alex will never know. All she wanted was to have a cosy night with her fiancée and binge on "The L Word" and have some wine but plans do fall out it seems.

Alex did not even bother go to their room because she did not want to deal with moody Piper tonight. This was supposed to be her special night, she deserved to be happy. She passed all of her modules at the top of the class for goodness sake.

Alex got into the room and decided to take a shower and watch some TV before she slept. She suddenly lost her appetite so she was not planning on going down for dinner. Seems like he lost interest for anything so she switched off the TV and just laid on the bed with her eyes closed but with the lights on.

Piper went downstairs for dinner only to find her mother alone on the dinner table.

"Good evening Bumblebee! You alone, is everything all right with Alex. Is she sick?" Carol asked concerned and Piper instantly felt guilty.

"Good evening mom. Alex is fine mom. I thought she was already down here?" Piper said unsure as if it was a question.

"What do you mean you thought she was already here? I mean you people always come down together unless the other one is sick. What happened Bumblebee? Because right now we should be celebrating that she is done with her first year," Carol asked as she poured herself a glass of wine.

"Well…" Piper went on to explain what transpired between them today embarrassed by her actions now when she heard the words that came out of her mouth.

"Poor Alex. Shame on you Bumblebee. That is no way to treat your partner. Soon you will be married and that is definitely, not how you deal with your stress load. You always leave it by the door before you come in to the house. Now take some food and go apologise to Alex for your behaviour and tell her congratulations for giver and me her this. I will go have dinner in my office. I have work to finish up before the holidays anyway and you better come up with something to celebrate Alex's achievement."

Carol handed a small gift bag to Piper to give to Alex. Piper went to the kitchen to ask for dinner to be brought to their guest room with some wine. She hoped Alex wold forgive her.

Piper went to the guestroom and knocked but no answer, she tried the lock and it was unlocked so she attentively walked in.

"Al?" Still no response.

"Alex baby I am so sorry. I didn't mean everything I said, I was just stressed with work and I just took it out all on you." Piper said as she moved further into the room and sat at the edge of the bed.

"I just want you to know that I am really proud of you and everything that you have accomplished. I love you and I am sorry Al. I brought you dinner too. Mom also gave me this to give to you" Alex was still not responding. Piper placed the gift on the stand and stood up to leave. Carol had gotten Alex a book.

She placed a kiss on Alex's forehead and left.

"I love you too" She heard Alex say as she was about to close the door but could see that Alex did not turn to look at her. She deserved this. Both of them did not eat and they were restless.

"Fucking park slope narcissistic asshole" Alex mumbled as she got up from the bed and headed for the master bedroom. They just could not sleep apart and the fact that they were closer did not make things easy.

Alex got there and tip toed so she will not wake her fiancée up. She crawled into bed on her side and spooned her.

"Thank you for coming back." Alex was shocked and tensed for a bit but relaxed soon after. Piper turned so she could face Alex.

"I am really sorry Al and I don't even know why you even agreed to marry someone like me. I don't deserve you." Piper was crying and this shuttered Alex's heart into pieces.

"Hey Pipes please don't cry. I mean, yeah you can be a narcissistic horses ass sometimes but you are my narcissistic horses ass. I love you and do not ever doubt yourself if you deserve me. Yes, you do not deserve me because you deserve more than what I could offer but you still chose me. Let's put this behind us and just forget about it okay?"

Piper was sobbing hard to respond so she just nodded. I guess the stress really got to her and crying released some of the tension too. Alex felt bad for her fiancée, she too was tearing up, and she held her lover tighter. They fell asleep into each other's arms and that is how they also woke up.

Two weeks had come and went too quickly and everyone was getting for the trip. Although since their friends spent time with them on thanks giving, this time they are going to spend Christmas with their families and the families of their partners new year. Depending on which ones they start with/ so the trip was just for Alex, Piper, Carol and Diane.

Carol and Diane have become close friends and they call each other frequently. They had already made plans for themselves during this trip and all this time Diane was just being modest just accommodate Carol and did not curse much. We shall see what the trip has in store for us, when alcohol is involved.

The trio met Diane at the private airport and Alex could not help but run and jump into her mother's welcoming arms. Just because she is getting married, do not mean that she is no longer, mommy's baby.

"Hey mom!"

"Ally cat, how are you baby?"

"I'm good thanks and you mom?"

"IM good baby. Okay now move so I could hug my favourite daughter in law. Piper honey, how are you?" Diane called out as she opened her arms for Piper to fall in and she did just so.

"You mean your only soon-to-be daughter in law." Alex said as she let go of her mom completely for Piper to take a turn hugging her mother. She was glad that they love each other.

"Just because she is the only daughter in law doesn't mean that she can't be my favourite and she is already a daughter in law to me, it's only a matter of time... How are you honey?" Diane said while still holding Piper in her arms.

"Hi mom, I'm good thanks and you? And just so you know, you are my favourite mother-in law." Piper said and the tri stood there frozen still whilst Piper was confused. She did not here herself, It just cam out naturally.

"Oh Piper honey you have made me the happiest woman Alive." Diane pulled Piper into another tight embrace with tears in her eyes. Piper recapped what she said then realised her slip up and widened her eyes but then relaxed into Diane's embrace soon after. Alex and Carol also had tears in their eyes while looking at each other thinking about a certain day.

Diane let go of Piper to give Carol a warm hug.

"Hi Diane"

"Hi Carol. Sorry these girls were hogging me." At that, Diane received playful glares from the two lovebirds. Carol and Diane just laughed.

"You know you love it mom. Admit it."

"Yeah, yeah whatever." Diane dismissed her daughter's statement playfully with a shooing hand.

"It's okay. I mean they only see you every occasionally. Which is why you should consider moving to Manhattan permanently so they could see you all the time then they will get bored and rid of you in no time." Carol said playfully but meaning her words about Diane moving. She knows how much that would please soon-to-be daughter in-law.

"But mom you know to well that that will never happen. I mean its only two days ago when I found you with Alex cuddled up to your side with her head on your shoulder fast asleep after watching a "Pre-Christmas Christmas movie" as you called it." Alex blushed while Carol just raised a dismissal hand but Piper and Diane were laughing so hard that Diane had to hold on to her chest.

…flashback to pre-Christmas Christmas movie…..….

Carol was coming back from work late in the evening only to find Alex on the couch searching through the television, probably for something to watch. She took off her coat and shoes and joined Alex.

"Hey Alex dear. Piper working late again?" Carol asked as she said on the same couch with Alex but had some distance between them

"Hi Carol! Yes, she said we should have dinner without her. She will probably get a takeaway on her way home. So I was just waiting for you so we could have dinner together." Alex said acknowledging Carol by turning her attention from the TV to her for a bit and then back. Alex was now comfortable to be around Carol without Piper present.

"Oh that is so sweet of you. Okay let's go have dinner and then we will find something to watch later."

"So how are the exams going? You are only left with one right?" Carol asked during dinner.

"They are going okay thanks for asking and yes I am only left with one exam for the year." Alex really loved the fact that Carol was involved in her life so she felt at home always. They finished dinner and Alex went back to the couch while Carol went to pour some wine.

"Alex dear would you like some whine?" Carol called out from the Dining area.

"Yes please"

"There you go" Carol handed the wine to Alex while taking her seat next to Alex with little space between them now.

"Thanks mom" Both of them froze at this and went silent for a bit.

"Did you just call me…?"

"I am sorry I don't know where that came from. It's just…"

"Oh Alex you have made me the happiest woman alive. You can call me mom. I would love for you to do so." Carol pulled Alex into a hug with teary eyes, Alex was relieved, and she smiled into the hug.

Alex does not know where it came from really, because it just came naturally. I guess its listening to Piper all the time call her mom and it grew on her too.

"Okay mom." Alex was testing it and it was not awkward. They smiled at each other.

"Okay let's cover ourselves with this fleece blanket and watch a pre-Christmas Christmas movie. What do you think?"

"That sound awesome."

They watched the movie and Alex fell asleep on Carol's shoulder and a few minutes later Piper walked in.

"Hi mom. Aww you guys look so cute. Let me take a picture before she wakes up because she might deny this whole thing." Piper quickly took a picture and soon woke her fiancée up.

….end of flashback…

"Whoa I didn't even know that she called you mom." Piper was amazed and so much in love with her fiancée right now.

"Oh my BADASS of a daughter loves to cuddle." Diane said embarrassing her daughter further.

"Yep she is just a softie, a BIG CUDDLY BEAR." Another laughter erupted and Carol could not help but join in.

"Oh I see what this is. This is gang up on Alex and make fun of her." Alex feigned hurt.

"Oh baby you know we are just messing with you. I love our cuddling moments."

"Yeah well you should've thought of that before you decided to make fun of me. Well today, you will be cuddling Mrs Cuddles I tonight. Just be sure to get off the plane with her because I am sure the hotel do not have her.

(That is their big almost human size teddy bear they decided to get so that whenever one is traveling alone will cuddle it. They have another one at home too. Mrs Cuddles II)

Piper pouted and Alex could not resist but kiss the pout away and once again they were in their own little bubble until Diane broke it with her reply to Carol's previous statement.

"Maybe you are right Carol. I mean, think of all the fun we could have pranking these two. They have teddy bears with names for goodness sake yet they are getting married." Diane was also letting them in on her decision.

"Oh, Oh. I smell trouble." Alex said playfully but she cannot help the smile adorning her face with what her mom just said about moving and Piper was also happy.

"I think our mothers are up to no good." Piper responded with a laughter and everyone joined in.

They went on to board the plane and Diane was amazed.

"Damn this is amazing. I can actually live here. I mean there is a bedroom too. I would always be traveling if it were up to me." Diane was checking out the whole plane.

"Its amazing isn't it mom?" Alex said as she followed her mom around.

"Well I got to give it to you Ally cat. You are marry into a good family and I am glad because although this is the life I had always wanted for you, I could not give it to you but you managed to get it for yourself." Diane said sincerely.

"Mom you gave me everything I could ever need. Your time and love was everything to me and I am grateful that you were always there for me."

This was an intimate moment for the Vauses. They hugged and started joking because it is not in their nature to be sappy. They are the badass duo.

The pilot instructed that they were about to take off so they should al take their seats. Diane and Carol sat closer to each other on the left side while the two lovebirds sat cuddled up close in their own little bubble on the right side.

"I guess this is how this whole trip is going to be with those two living in their own little bubble as if nothing else exists around them." Diane said and they shared a laugh with Carol.

"Yes I guess so. I am just glad they have each other. Their love is so rare and definitely one of kind and it makes one believe in soulmates or 'The one'." Carol replied with a smile while facing the couple and Diane hummed in agreement to Carol's statement.

"Yes you are right. Old as I am I still admire their love and am somewhat jealous too. I never have to experience such love. Apart from Alex's father I never got to be with anyone else." Carol put a comforting hand on Diane's shoulder. No words were shared for a few minutes until Carol broke the silence.

"So you want to prank them when we get there? I think I got a few trick up my sleeve and together we can make them piss their pants." Diane was grateful for the change of subject.

"Yeah that will be so cool." The two mothers shared evil laughter quietly while stealing glances at the couple.

"Hey Al what do you think our parents are talking about?" Piper said with her head on Alex's shoulder as the raven-haired woman had her head by the window,

"Us obviously. I mean they keep stealing glances thinking we do not see them. I think them getting along this well is such a bad idea. They could be planning about their future grandbabies or an ugly sweater Christmas." Alex cringed at her last statement making Piper laugh because she knew that Alex was only joking.

"I love the fact that they get along though. It makes our lives so much easier. We get to spend holidays and birthdays together." Piper turned her face to look at her fiancée lovingly.

"You are right babe. It does make our lives easier. Just imagine having to share ourselves with them. We spend thanks giving this side and them Christmas the other," they both chuckled at this.

Everyone ended up falling asleep on the chairs because no one wanted to take the bedroom. They were however still comfortable. Hours later, they were awoken by the pilot's announcement over the intercom telling them they are about to land. They woke up and fastened their seatbelts and in 30 minutes time the plane landed.

"Ladies and gentlemen welcome to… hope you enjoy your stay and we will see each other in a few weeks. Merry Christmas and happy New Year. Ms Piper and Alex congratulations on your engagement." The pilot concluded and everyone got off the plane and got into the hired vehicle.

….END OF CHAPTER…