Thank you all for the warm welcome back. I hope I don't disappoint. Things are going to get a bit complicated. I expect hate and I will gladly accept. Lol

24.

Alex watched the interaction between the two ex-lovers for a while longer before she excused herself. She knew they had much more to talk about and her being there will not get them to the point where they needed to be. A lot between the two was left unsaid, so against protest from Piper's side, Alex decided to take Cameron for some ice cream and afterwards to the park so Braydon and Piper can address further issues without a third party and possible interruptions. Alex knew deep down that shit just got a whole lot more complicated and she was not sure what that meant for her and Piper. They will have to talk about it sooner or later, but she doesn't want to put even more stress on the blond. She knows she is dealing with a whole lot at the moment.

Alex pulled into the garage and as soon as she opened her door she could hear raised voices coming from inside the house. She noticed Larry was home so she can only assume that the argument involves Braydon. Luckily Cameron in fast asleep in his car seat, so she decides its best to leave him for a couple of minutes while she goes and informs the two people currently in a full blown shouting match that Cameron is home and this is not something they would want him to hear and see.

"I can't fucking believe you Piper" comes Larry's angry voice.

"How many times do I have to say this. It was unexpected. I didn't even see it coming…." Piper shouts back just as angry, but before she can continue Larry interrupts again.

"It didn't look like you protested much."

Alex paused just outside the kitchen to listen in a bit more. Her brain tells her she knows what this is about but she wants confirmation.

Piper sighs out frustratingly and Alex can hear her take a deep breath. "I don't know what you want me to say Larry. We have been going around in circles for half an hour. I don't know what else to say."

"Do you still love him?"

"It's more complicated than that Larry. Things between us just ended suddenly. He was supposed to leave for a little while but then never came back. We share a son. It's more complicated than just love."

"Either you love him or you don't. Either you love him in the same way you use to love him or you love him in a way you would love your best friend. You used to be best friends. Or you love him in a way because he is the father of your child. This is not complicated Piper. You are trying to complicate it."

"You call all of that not complicate." Piper sighs

"I deserve to know Piper. I deserve an answer." Larry says in a softer voice.

Suddenly a third voice interrupts them "I would like to hear the answer to that question."

Piper and Larry turns to see Alex now leaning against the kitchen door frame. "Alex, please, not now." Piper begs in a whisper and Alex can hear the defeat in her voice.

"What is it to you anyway" Larry spits at Alex. He looks between the two woman before you continues "You have got to be fucking kidding me." He breaths out with half a sarcastic laugh as soon as the realisation hits him. "How could I be so fucking dumb."

"Larry…" Piper tries to interrupt but he will have non of it.

"No Piper. Are you fucking serious? I was going to ask you to fucking marry me meantime you have been two timing" he pauses "No THREE timing me."

"Three timing" Alex enquires with a quirked eyebrow.

Larry laughs turning to Alex. "Well it looks like we both were stupid fools. I came home all excited, thinking about the proposal only to find, 'our' apparently, girlfriend and her ex-boyfriend, slash baby daddy going at each other on the couch. Luckily it was only dry humping but if I was ten minutes later I don't know what I would have found."

While Larry has been rambling on Alex turned to meet Pipers gaze. She could see all sorts of emotions in the blonde's eyes. Hurt, confusion, regret, you name it, it was there. Alex is hurt by what Larry has just told her, but at the same time she doesn't feel like she can judge the blonde. She is in a fucked up situation. Braydon and her got dealt a shit hand and they need to handle it however they see fit.

She offers Piper a small smile before she diverts her gaze back to Larry "What happened between Piper and me was a one-time impulsive decision." She pauses for a couple of seconds to look at the blonde again and she can see the tears building in her blue eyes, however she turns to Larry again before she continues "and I am sorry. Things just got a whole lot more complicated."

"I think it will be best if you leave." Larry interrupts

"Excuse me?" Suddenly Piper found her voice. "This is my fucking house Larry and I…."

"No, he is right Piper" Alex cuts her off "Things just got a whole lot more complicated and at the end of the day this is not about me, it's not about you, it's not about Larry and nor is it about Braydon. Right now Cameron comes first. Nothing good can come from me staying here. Larry and I can't stand each other and things will just be worse now." She pauses and takes a step closer to the now crying blonde. She takes one of her hands in her own. "The two of you need to talk. You need to sort this out. You need to sort out with Braydon what the hell is going on. There is way to many people in this relationship and only you can cut it down."

"I am so sorry Alex" Piper breathes out.

"I know you are." Alex not caring about Larry's eyes on them pulls the crying blonde into a hug and whispers "I know you are. You didn't ask for any of this. But only you can sort it out okay. So I am going to go and pack my stuff." Piper shakes her head in Alex's neck trying to protest, but Alex keeps going not giving Piper a chance "and I am going to move out. I am taking Cameron with me for the night because you need to talk to Larry and I am not going to leave him here for that. I will drop him at school in the morning and then we will take it from there." She breaks the embrace to meet blue eyes. "Okay?" she asks.

Piper just nods. She knows there is no room for discussion. Alex has made up her mind and deep down Piper knows she is right. Alex kisses the blonde softly on the forehead before she turns around leaving the kitchen to go pack her stuff and Cameron's overnight bag.

The last thing she heard before she ascended the stairs was Larry's voice "So she makes decisions regarding your child now and you just nod."

"Oh shut up Larry" came Pipers reply.

As Alex enters Cameron's bedroom to pack his overnight bag after she has packed up all of her belongings, she finds Piper sitting on her sons bed with an already packed bag next to her. She looks up at Alex, her face and eyes full of sadness. "You really don't have to go." She whispers.

Alex sits down next to the her taking one of her hands in her own. "I really do. You have got a lot going on at the moment and I really don't blame you for anything. Nobody saw this coming."

"I am so confused right now." The blonde sighs resting her head against Alex's shoulder.

"Which is why I have to leave. I'm just confusing you more." Alex says as she rests her head against Pipers. They sit there for a couple of minutes in silence before Alex speaks again. "Well I better get going. Cameron is asleep in the car. I am sure he is going to wake up any minute now."

"I'll walk you out to the car. I want to say goodbye to him." Piper says as she rises from the bed.

Alex picks up her bag while Piper picks up the bag she has packed for her son. Alex wraps her free arm around the blonde's shoulder as they walk out the door and down the stairs. Piper wraps her arm around the taller girls waist, wanting to have her as close as possible for however long she still has, which is just a minute or two. To soon they reach the car and Alex releases her hold on the other woman and takes Cameron's bag to put both the bags in the trunk of the car. The boy is still fast asleep oblivious to everything around him. With not a care in the world, 'as it should be' Piper thinks to herself. She opens the car door gently stroking her son's hair and then planting a long soft kiss to his head while the tears starts to flow. "I am so sorry baby." She whispers. "We will figure this out, I promise."

Eventually she closes the door and walks over to Alex where she stands next to the driver's door ready to go. Alex smiles softly at the blond and holds out her arms to Piper for a hug. She doesn't hesitate for a second before she wraps her arms tightly around Alex's waist. They hold each other for about a minute, which to Piper felt like only to seconds, because when Alex pulls away it feels to soon.

Alex places her hand under Pipers chin tilting her head up so their eyes meet. Neither one of them has any words to speak. They both know that the time for them in this instance is not right, but both of them know they will treasure their one night forever. It meant something to the both of them. Something they will hold on to and never let go. Piper knows she has to sort out her life because right now it is falling apart and she has to put it back together as soon as possible because it affects her son as well. She has to figure out what she feels for Larry. She has to figure out what she feels for Braydon, relieve, shock, old feelings coming back to live. She has to figure out where Alex fits into all of this. The only certain thing she knows for sure is that she does not want to completely lose her. The same thoughts are running through Alex's mind and even though it appeared that she has been strong, inside her heart is breaking, not only for herself, but for Piper, for Cameron and even for Braydon.

Alex doesn't know if this is goodbye or see you later, but she gently leans in and places her lips softly against Pipers. The blonde's eyes immediately falls closed as they stand there just holding their lips softly against each other before they slowly start moving them. The kiss does not become needy and it is not all tongues battling for dominance. It is slow, it's soft and it's full of emotion.

When they part and Piper eventually opens her eyes, green meets blue and she speaks her thoughts "Why did that feel like a goodbye." She whispers softly, still holding on to Alex.

Alex lifts one of her hands gently stroking Pipers cheek "it wasn't a goodbye. It was a 'I care for you and I am here for you if you need me' kiss. I am Pipes, I am here for you. I know you have a lot to figure out, but if you needs someone to rant to, shout at, kick, slap, anything I am here for you. Whatever is going on between us can take a back seat for now until you are ready to talk about it, if you ever want to talk about it."

"Thank you for everything Alex."

"No problem" Alex smiles softly "I think it's time to go."

"Can I call Cameron later?"

"You don't have to ask. His your son. Of course you can call him." Alex reassures.

"I know I just wasn't sure if you would want to talk to me so soon."

"I just told you I will be there for you and I will be. I am not mad Piper. Nobody caused this. It's nobody's fault."

Piper just nods, pulls Alex back in for a last tight hug. As she pulls away she kisses Alex softly on the cheek, turns and walks away, but not before Alex noticed the new set of tears.

Alex pulls out of the garage and as she looks in her rear view mirror while driving away from the place she called home for a while her own tears threaten to fall, but now is not the time, so again she suppresses her needs till a later stage.

She drives to a hotel closest to Cameron's school. After she checked them in she dropped Piper a quick text to let her know where they were so she wouldn't worry. Piper quickly responded with a short 'thank you'.

Cameron in the meantime has woken up and had loads of questions to which Alex promised to answer them all as soon as they have settled. The time has come and she braces herself for the inquisitive little four year old currently patiently waiting for her on the couch.