A/N I'm not too sure about how this chapter turned out. Please leave me a review and let me know what you think.

"Gee hello to you too Pipes," Larry retorts. "Your mother invited me, she told me it was your idea actually…I was kind of hoping it meant you were having second thoughts." "My idea? Why in the world would I want to invite you to a family lunch? We broke up Larry!"

Just then Piper's mother walks into the foyer and she gives Larry a big hug, "Larry! I'm so glad you could make it! Come on in lunch is about to be served." Piper stares open mouthed at her mother, she can't believe she had the nerve to invite Larry! Carol motions for Larry to head toward the dining room, Piper grabs her mother by the elbow and whispers, "Mom! Are you kidding me right now? What could you have possibly been thinking inviting Larry here?"

"Piper dear, I think you made a huge mistake breaking off your engagement to Larry and I wanted to give you two some time to work things out. He is a good man and you two make such a wonderful couple…"

"Mom that is not your decision to make. I already told you that I'm not in love with Larry and I'm not going to marry him!"

"For heaven's sake Piper it's just lunch okay? Just sit down, eat lunch, and be civil," Carol scoffs at Piper and stalks off to the dining room.

Piper is so angry, but she refuses to give her mother the satisfaction of getting to her, so she reluctantly heads to the dining room. Walking into the room, Piper sees that everyone has already taken their seats: her father at one end, her mother at the other, Cal and Neri on the near side, and Larry and an empty chair on the far side. Piper stares at the empty seat next to Larry, walks to it, and silently sits down. She grabs her wine glass and drinks the entire glass of Pinot Grigio before refilling her glass and downing half of the second one. Everyone is watching Piper and there is an awkward silence at the table for a moment before Cal tries to lighten the mood, "Hey its 5:00 somewhere right? Besides Neri and I have some news—we're getting married!" There is a myriad of congratulations all around the table as Neri shows off her engagement ring and the couple describe the proposal. Piper is not really listening, of course she is happy for her brother, but she just can't get over the audacity of her mother. She raises her glass to Cal and Neri and finishes the rest of her wine.

"I think that's enough wine Piper," warns Carol. "No actually, I don't think it is mother. There is not enough wine in the world for me to understand why you would invite my ex-fiancé to our family lunch and then act like I'm the problem." Bill Chapman clears his throat, "Piper that is no way to speak to your mother, she didn't mean any harm."

"Um, I think maybe I should go—congrats again Cal," Larry mumbles excusing himself from the table and heading toward the front door. Piper jumps out of her seat and follows him to the door, "Larry I'm sorry you got caught up in the middle of this, but I had no idea that my mom invited you and if I'd have known I probably wouldn't have come… I'm sorry Larry, but I haven't changed my mind about the engagement." Larry doesn't say anything, he just grabs his coat and heads to his car. Piper returns to the dining room and everyone is silent.

"Well, I hope you're happy now Piper! You broke that poor man's heart!" Carol admonishes Piper.

"Mom why are you more concerned with Larry's feelings than the feelings of your own daughter?" Piper asks in a sad quiet voice. "I have already explained to you that I didn't just decide to break off the engagement on the spur of the moment, it is something I've been thinking about for a long time. I just don't love him Mom and I can't understand why you would want me to marry someone I don't love."

"Piper he is a good man, he comes from a great respectable family, he has a good job, and he will make a great father for my grandchildren…what more could you want in a husband? I mean really Piper you are not getting any younger…"

"God mother! That's all you ever think about, what will look good to your country club friends! I refuse to settle for a loveless marriage to keep up appearances. Besides, I'm seeing someone new and I am very hopeful about it, so can we please just drop the topic of my love life please!

"You're seeing someone new? Already? Isn't that a bit quick Piper? I mean people will think you were cheating on Larry and that is why your engagement ended," Carol quips.

"For the last time mother, I don't care what other people think! And for your information I met Alex AFTER I broke it off with Larry. I just wish you could be happy for me that I have found someone that makes me so happy…"

Piper's mother is taken aback. "Piper you have known this Alex for what four days? What could you possibly even know about him? Does he come from a good family? Does he have a good job? Piper you need to think about these things!"

Piper has had enough, "Fuck it!" she thinks to herself as she stands and faces her mother. "Yes Mom, I have known Alex for four days, but they have actually been the best four days of my life. SHE comes from a great family with a mother that loves her unconditionally, SHE owns a bar in the city, SHE owns a penthouse apartment, but most of all SHE makes me feel like I matter and that I am good enough just the way I am! Yes you all heard me right, I have a GIRLFRIEND named Alex and she's amazing!" Cal drops his fork, Neri looks down at her plate, her father's mouth is standing open, and her mother nearly chokes as Piper walks out of the room, grabs her coat and keys, and leaves. She didn't let herself cry until she was safely out of her childhood home and in her car. Piper takes several deep breaths to calm herself and wipes the tears from her cheeks. She decides to call Alex. Hearing her voice right now is just what Piper needs, so she takes her cellphone out of her pocket and dials Alex's number.

Alex answers on the second ring, "Hey Pipes, are you done with lunch already? I wasn't expecting you to call for a while yet."

"I just really needed to hear your voice Al…"

"Pipes? Are you okay, you sound like you've been crying? What happened babe?"

"I'll tell you all about it when I see you. Can you meet me at my house in about an hour?"

"Of course, I'll meet you at yours in an hour, and Piper please drive carefully okay?"

"I will Al, thank you for caring about me, I'll see you in an hour, Bye"

"Bye Pipes."

Forty-five minutes later, Alex is sitting on Piper's front stoop waiting for her to arrive back home. She watches as Pipers Blue Hyundai Tucson parallel parks on the street in front of the brownstone. Piper gets out of her car and makes a beeline for Alex, pulling the brunette into a hug. Alex hugs Piper back and simply holds her for about a minute without saying anything. Alex looks Piper in the eyes, "Hey beautiful, rough day huh?" Alex whispers and kisses the blonde tenderly on her cheek. "You have no idea Al," Piper murmurs quietly. Piper unlocks the door and the women enter. Alex helps Piper remove her coat and guides her into the living room and pulls her down on the couch next her never letting go of her hand. "Tell me what happened babe." Piper started from the beginning telling Alex everything including her mother inviting Larry without her knowledge, criticizing her decision to break off the engagement, and complaining about what her WASPY friends will think of the break up. "But not once did she ask me how I was doing or how things were going in my life-it's like she doesn't even care!"

Piper pauses for a minute then looks into Alex's emerald eyes, "I called you my girlfriend…"

"To who?"

"To my parents and my brother and my brother's fiancée—I mean I know you're not…but…"

Normally this would have freaked Alex out, after all Alex Vause does not do relationships, but Piper is different and there is only one question on her mind right now. "Why?"

"Why what?" Piper asks.

"Why am I not your girlfriend? I'm not seeing anyone else, are you?"

"No! Of course I'm not seeing anyone else, I just—I just wasn't sure…" Piper takes a deep breath and blurts out, "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Alex chuckles, "Yeah."

"Yes?" Piper squeals and gives the brunette the most adorable smile.

"Yes, you idiot!" Alex answers and pulls Piper in for a sweet kiss. "So how did your parents take the news?"

"Well my dad's jaw hit the floor and my mom nearly choked on her food and then I left before either of them could manage to say anything," Piper says with a slight giggle. Alex laughs, "I told my mom about you too you know—she wanted to know why I didn't bring you with me. She would really like to meet you."

"I would like that Al, but the idea of a loving, supportive mother is so foreign to me, I don't know if I would know how to act around your mom." Piper mumbles. "Pipes you don't have to act at all, you just be yourself and she'll see how amazing you are."

"Thank you for that…and thanks for being here."

"Hey that's what girlfriends are for right?" Alex says with a lift of her eyebrow and a smirk. "So how about that pizza? Let's order now, I'm hungry." Piper calls the local pizza place and orders a large pizza with sausage and mushrooms to be delivered.

Much later Alex and Piper are lying on the couch with Piper as Alex's 'little spoon' and watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, a movie that both women have seen about a thousand times before, but that still makes them laugh. When the movie ends, Alex realizes Piper is fast asleep. Gently nudging Piper and giving her a soft kiss on the back of the neck, Alex whispers, "Pipes, let's go to bed, it's late." Piper mumbles something incoherently and Alex doesn't have it in her heart to wake her up. She grabs a blanket off the back of the couch and covers herself and Piper and falls asleep with her arms wrapped around the woman that has turned her life upside down.