The next morning, Piper leaves Alex peacefully sleeping and goes for a run to clear her head before heading back to her own house to get ready for work. Quickly jotting a note for Alex to let her know what she was doing, Piper laces up her running shoes and sets off. She does a quick three and a half mile circuit around the park before heading home. Just as she is unlocking the door she checks her cellphone and discovers that she has a missed call from Polly, and one missed text from Alex. Of course Piper looks at the text first.
6:37 A.M Alex: Good beautiful! I'm sorry I missed you this morning, I guess I was pretty tired! Anyway, have a great day at work and I'll see you later, Love you—Al XOXO
Piper smiles and can't help but notice the delicious fluttering in her stomach at simply receiving a text from Alex. This is the kind of love she had been missing and a big reason why she broke it off with Larry. She then listens to the voicemail message from Polly.
"Pipe? It's Pol. Hey I just heard about your dad, I'm so sorry, I wish you would have called me. How is he doing? Let me know if there is anything I can do okay? I have some big news I've been dying to tell you! Call me…Love you…Bye."
Piper smiles and makes a mental note to give Polly a call and suggest they meet up for lunch or drinks after work. The blonde is feeling a bit guilty because since falling in love with Alex, she has not really put any time or effort into her friendship with Polly. Piper quickly strips out of her running clothes and jumps in the shower. About a half hour later, Piper is walking to work and decides to give Polly a call. Polly picks up after just one ring.
"Pipe! Did you get my message? I'm so sorry about your dad! Is he gonna be okay?"
"Yeah Pol I got your message and yes my dad is going to be okay, but it was very scary for a while there. I know I should have called you, but everything was moving so fast…"
"Hey that's okay Pipe, I'm just relieved. You know I'm here for you if you need anything right?"
"Thanks Pol, you are such a good friend…I'm sorry that I haven't been such a good friend to you lately. So what is this big news you have for me?"
"It's kind of something I'd like to tell you in person…are you free to meet for lunch today?"
"Absolutely! Do you want to meet at that deli over on 9th—say 12:15 or so?"
"Sounds great Pipe—See you then"
Piper arrives at the deli and sees that Polly is already there in their usual booth near the back. Polly jumps up when she sees her and the friends give each other a big hug before sitting down. The women order their lunches and Piper asks, "So...I'm dying here, what is this big news you have to share?"
A huge smile appears on Polly's face, "Well…I actually have TWO pieces of huge news and I want my best friend to be the first to know!"
"The suspense is killing me Pol—what's up?"
Polly whips her left hand out from under the table and flashes a beautiful diamond engagement ring, "Pete asked me to marry him!"
Piper lets out a squeal and grabs Polly's hand for a closer look at the ring, "Oh my God Pol! That's great! Congratulations!"
"Thanks Pipe, I'm so excited! He proposed on Christmas Eve, it was so romantic! Of course I want you to be my maid of honor! We are thinking about getting married at the end of February so I am going to need help getting it planned."
"Wait THIS February? That's like…less than two months away! Why such a hurry? Wouldn't a summer wedding be better?" Piper exclaims.
"Well…that's the other big news…I found out yesterday that I'm pregnant!"
"Holy shit Polly!" "That's great news, I know you have always wanted to be a mom." Piper whispers excitedly, "Of course I'll be your maid of honor and help you plan the wedding! Let me see that ring again!" Piper says reaching for Polly's hand, "Wow! Pete sure has good taste-that is one hell of a rock!"
"Speaking of jewelry…where in the world did you get that gorgeous necklace?" Polly asks pointing at the turquoise diamond that Alex gave her for Christmas.
Piper blushes and puts her hand up to stroke the necklace, "Alex gave me this for Christmas…"
"Wow! You guys have gotten pretty serious huh?"
"I guess you could say that…" Piper answers with a dreamy expression on her face.
The friends finish their lunches and have to head back to work, but make plans to meet up very soon to work on their Popi products as well as wedding planning.
The next several days pass pretty much uneventfully with Alex and Piper working during the days and spending nights together at either Alex's penthouse or Piper's brownstone. In fact, they have not spent a night apart since the night of their second date. Piper has called her father every day to check on him and he assured her that he is doing well and should be home by New Years.
On Saturday, Alex had to work at the bar because Janae had come down with the flu so Piper drove back to the hospital to visit her dad. She was given the great news that he would be allowed to go home the following day. Piper spent all day hanging out with her dad at the hospital and taking required walks with him around the hospital wing. "Things are certainly looking up," Piper thinks to herself as she drives back home late that evening. She smiles when she gets home to find Alex asleep in her bed. The blonde quickly changes into a large sleep shirt and slides into bed next to Alex. Piper leans in and kisses the brunette softly on the lips. Alex's emerald eyes open slowly and she smiles when she sees Piper, "Hey Pipes, how's your dad?" Piper returns Alex's smile, "He is doing great! They are going to release him from the hospital tomorrow." "That's great news Pipes," Alex murmurs through a yawn. Piper kisses Alex once more then turns over into their usual sleeping position with her back to Alex's front.
"Goodnight Al"
"Goodnight Pipes," Alex whispers throwing her arm over Piper and pulling her closer.
The next day is New Year's Eve, and it is also brunch day with Alex's mom. "Are you sure you want me to come? I would hate to intrude on your time with your mom Alex."
"Pipes—you heard my mom on Christmas—she wants you to come, and so do I" Alex assures Piper pulling the blonde closer to her for a kiss. The kiss heats up very quickly as usual and their hands begin running over each other's bodies.
"Alex…" Piper gasps, "Alex we have to stop or we won't make it to brunch on time," the blonde moans, but continues sliding her hand down the front of Alex's jeans.
"You are not acting like someone who wants to stop Pipes," Alex groans as Piper's fingers make contact with her dripping center.
"You'll just have to come quickly then Al," Piper whispers as she pushes two long fingers inside her girlfriend while grinding her own throbbing core on the brunette's thigh. Piper continues thrusting her fingers into Alex grazing the older woman's g-spot while using her thumb to tease her clit. It continually amazes Alex how quickly Piper is able to bring her to orgasm, it's almost embarrassing really, she often feels like a horny teenager having sex for the first time. A few more strokes is all it takes as Alex moans out her release and collapses against the blonde. Piper slowly removes her fingers and brings them to her mouth sucking them clean one at a time.
"Damn Pipes! That's so fuckin hot," Alex whispers reaching or the zipper of Piper's jeans.
"Oh no-there's no time right now! I guess it just took you too long to come!" Piper teases Alex.
"Oh shut up!" Alex hisses blushing slightly.
"Plus I don't want to be late for brunch with your mom, we can pick up where we left off later…" Piper promises.
About forty-five minutes later, Alex and Piper walk into Harriet's Waffle House hand in hand. Alex spies her mom sitting at their usual table and guides Piper to the booth near the back of the restaurant. Diane sees them approaching and jumps to her feet, "God, I haven't seen my daughter look this happy in a very long time," she thinks to herself as she watches Alex and Piper walking toward her.
"Happy New Year's Eve Mom!" Alex says hugging Diane tightly.
"Happy New Year's Eve to you girls too! Piper, I was so sorry to hear about your dad! How's he doing? How are you doing?" Diane asks giving the younger woman a comforting hug.
Piper feels tears spring up in her eyes and tries to brush them away before Alex or Diane notice, but it's too late.
"Pipes what's wrong babe?"
"Piper honey, I'm sorry if I upset you! Alex told me on the phone yesterday that your father was doing much better, has something else happened?" Diane asks worriedly looking from Piper to Alex and then back to Piper again.
"No Diane, he's doing much better; in fact he is supposed to be released from the hospital today…I just got emotional because…well because when you hugged me and asked how I was doing—well it just reminded me of how much I would love for my own mother to do that…"
Alex had let her mother know that Piper does not have the best of relationships with her mother. Diane grabs both of Piper's hands and whispers, "I hope you know that I'm here for you…anytime…even if you want to call and talk or something, my daughter loves you and so do I."
Piper smiles, "Thank you Diane that means so much to me."
Diane hugs both Piper and Alex and then lightens the mood by pointing out Piper's necklace, "So is this THE necklace you were trying to describe to me on the phone?" Diane askes Alex.
"Yes this is it," Alex chuckles as Piper's face lights up.
"Wow! It's beautiful! You sure do have good taste Alex," Diane muses.
"I sure do," Alex whispers with her eyes locked on Piper.
A/N Are people still reading this? I haven't received a review in a while and I don't know if I should continue or not. I have some ideas about where I think the story is going, but if there is something you would like me to include, I am always open to suggestions. The next chapter is New Year's Eve and I am planning on a jealous Alex.
On a side note, I have been going crazy looking for Alex's birthday she will be turning 30 in my story so that will be a future chapter as well. I know Piper's is June 7, but I don't know if Alex's birthday was ever mentioned on the show. I guess I can always use Laura's birthday March 7. Anyway please review and enjoy this chapter and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
Piper walks into Three Doors Down at about 8:00 and is greeted by Nicky.
"Hey Blondie!
