Guest 1 ("Holy Mama…"): I totally get why you think Alex should rather be with Riley because Piper doesn't deserve her, but don't you kind of feel sorry for Piper. And let's not forget Riley also turned her back on Alex once.
Guest 2 ("…Larry still exists…."): Vauseman goals. Forget Larry exists. Achieved. Lol
Guest 3 ("….I'll still be waiting"): I promise I wont leave you hanging again. I will finish it this time. I am always two chapters ahead now. I am totally back.
Guest 4 ("I need Chapter 25"): Soon Enough :D
Guest 5 ("…. Emotional Rollercoaster…"): Yeah, Alex is awesome. "Emotional Rollercoaster" indeed. Everything cant always be easy. We need to spice it up a bit.
Guest 6 ("….Cute late night phone calls…"): I guess what's to follow is not quite the cute you were looking for, but at least it is something, right?
Guest 7 ("…. Angst is good….") Thank you for the review. I don't like to always make everything to easy. Sometimes a bit of drama is good. Honestly in my mind I have everything all planned out and then I start writing a chapter and if I read it, it is nothing like what I thought it would be. So it changes all the time.
Guest 8 ("…. Everything kind of has a limit…") I hope this chapter clears it up a bit. I understand your feelings towards Piper, but I also think we have to remember that this guy was the love of her life and the one moment he was there and the next he wasn't. He was but he wasn't and now here he is again. It's confusing and it really f*cks with a persons emotions.
And to ALL the other guests, thank you so much for all your reviews.
25.
Alex explained to Cameron that his mom and Larry needed some adult time to talk about adult stuff and so she decided that she will take him away for a night where they can eat as much pizza and ice cream as possible without them getting scolded by the boy's mother. To say he was beyond excited was an understatement. Alex told him that it was their little secret and he was more than happy to agree wanting to know when exactly they were going to get the pizza and ice cream she is talking about.
Eventually, as always, Cameron won the debate on when exactly all of this was going to happen. Alex thought it was still to early for dinner, but Cameron argued that it was the perfect time because he is extremely hungry, even though he had a hot dog at the park earlier, and that the ice cream will keep him awake if he eats it to late, so then he won't be able to get up for school the next morning. How can Alex argue with that, so they were currently sitting on the couch eating pizza and watching cartoons. Alex however wasn't paying much attention to the tv as her mind was with the blond the whole time, wondering how things has been going and if she and Larry has managed to sort things out like civilized people or if they are still arguing. She hoped for the blonde's sake they have sorted it out by now.
She also can't help but wonder about Braydon and Cameron and when his parents will decide to tell him about his father. During the course of the day she has heard the boys opinion about Braydon and he took quite the liking to the man from what she could have gathered. At first when Alex decided to take him to the park to leave Piper and Braydon alone to talk the disappointment was evident when the little man asked Braydon to come with and play ball with him in the park, but the older man had to decline because that would defeat the purpose.
He also mentioned that he 'likes his mommy's new friend'. Alex was happy to see and hear this because she knew this would make things a lot easier for Piper than what they originally thought it would be. Alex made a mental note that she will inform Piper of her observation and that in her opinion it would be okay for them to tell the boy sooner rather than later. She knows the decision is not hers and she would not interfere. Just share the knowledge she has which might help the two adults.
Her thoughts got interrupted by her phone notifying her of and incoming text.
From Piper: Hi
To Piper: Hi
From Piper: How is Cameron? Hope he is not a hand full?
To Piper: No he is perfectly fine. I explained to him we were going to have a little sleepover and he was more than excited about it.
From Piper: Wonder what could possibly have him so excited.
Alex couldn't help but let out a little laugh, because she just knew that Piper knew about the ice cream and the Pizza. Before she got a chance to reply se got another text.
From Piper: Can I call him now?
To Piper: Yeah of course. He is right here next to me. We are watching cartoons.
She didn't get a reply but instead the phone started ringing. Alex handed it to Cameron. "It's for you, it's you mommy."
The boy very excitedly grabbed the phone and as soon as he answers he starts rambling and Alex is sure Piper didn't even get a chance to say hello.
"Hello mommy. Alex and I are having the bestest sleep over ever. She played with me for a bit and then we went and got loads and loads of pizza and ice cream…." He stops talking abruptly when he realises what he just said. Horrified he turns his gaze to Alex.
"Well so much for that secret" Alex laughs and gives the boy a wink so he knows it is okay and she is not mad at him. He gives her a toothy grin before he goes back to the couch to sit next to her and continue talking with his mother.
"Are you mad mommy?"
"No baby, I am not mad. I am glad you are having a good time." Alex can hear the response from the other end of the phone. She can pick up the hint of sadness in the blonds tone. Luckily Cameron does not pick up on it.
"I told Alex that we must get the pizza and ice cream early because otherwise the ice cream will keep me awake tonight and then I can't get up for school. Just like you told me."
"That is good. So you do listen when I talk sometimes." Piper laughs
"I always listen mommy."
Alex finds herself smiling down at the little boy sitting next to her loving the bond the Mother and son shares. She gets so lost in thoughts she only starts registering again when Cameron pokes her in the side letter her know that he is done and that his mother want to talk to her.
"Hey Pipes"
"He Al"
Silence.
And more silence.
And still some more silence. Eventually Alex can't take it anymore and decides to break it.
"Are you okay" She asks the blond on the other end of the line.
"Not really" comes the reply and Alex can hear that that is the truth. "Can we talk more over text?" Piper asks to which Alex agrees. As soon as they end the call she shoots the blond a test.
To Piper: You only have to talk if you feel like you really want to.
From Piper: I want to. Look what a whole lot of good not talking in the past got me.
To Piper: Pipes, I know you are going through a difficult time right now, but you have got to stop blaming yourself. You did not cause this. Nobody did. It was a fucked up set of events beyond anybody's control.
Alex sees that the blond has read her text, but there is no indication that she is busy typing a reply. She keeps staring at the screen hoping the blond is okay. Eventually there is an indication that the blond is typing a reply and she breaths out a sigh of relieve when she sees a text appear but feels a pang of guild, sadness and something else when she reads what it said.
From Piper: Larry left…
To Piper: I am so sorry Piper.
From Piper: I asked him to.
All of a sudden Alex's mind is racing a mile a minute. Why would she ask Larry to leave? Is she going to give it another shot with Braydon? Does she need time to herself? Is it a trial separation?
To Piper: Why?
From Piper: I don't know. I just needed him to leave. He was going to ask me to marry him and as soon as I found out, the day I told you about it, then already did I realise deep down that maybe that is not what I wanted. You and I both thought that I was going to say yes, but was I really? I don't know. I just heard about it and immediately I started doubting my relationship with him and a couple of hours later I ended up in bed with you. If I really loved him enough to marry him, that wouldn't have happened, shouldn't have happened.
Alex does not know if she should feel offended by that last part. Did the blond regret their night together?
From Piper: I know what you are thinking and I am not saying I regret it.
To Piper: So what are you saying then?
From Piper: I am saying that I don't love Larry enough to marry him. Our night together is proof of that. I think I got used to the idea of Larry and in a way I do love him because he put me back together after Braydon, but it's not the kind of love he wants and deserves.
To Piper: And now Braydon is back.
Alex knows she sounds bitter and this is not what Piper needs right now. She regrets the text as soon as she sees it has been read, but what's done is done and now she will just wait and see how things escalate from here. Maybe it's a good thing. At least they can start somewhere.
From Piper: Alex….
'That's it' Alex thinks, 'that is all I am getting'.
To Piper: I am sorry Piper, I am not trying to make this difficult for your, really I am not. And I know I told you earlier that we are on hold till you are ready to talk about it, but now I found out that you kicked Larry out after you almost slept with Braydon and I can't help but wonder if the old flame has gotten it's spark back.
From Piper: First of all. I didn't almost sleep with Braydon. Larry completely took that situation and ran with it. After you guys left we went to the living room to talk further. Things got really emotional, understandably, or don't you think it's understandable? (I will wait for a reply before I continue. This is a stupid conversation to have over texts btw)
Alex considers the blonds text for a bit before she types out a reply. Of course it is understandable for things to get emotional. Alex is not an unreasonable person. She knows the situation. She knows they never got their closure. She knows nobody asked for any of this. She has told Piper this over and over again. She can feel herself getting frustrated, but knows she has to compose herself because she wouldn't want to be rude to the other woman. Now is not the time. So she takes a couple of minutes and then sends her reply.
To Piper: Yes it is understandable (And yes it is stupid but this is the only option we have right now?)
Knowing the next text from the blond will probably be a lengthy one she takes this opportunity to go to the restroom. As she is about to sit back down on the couch there is a knock at the door. Very confused she asks Cameron "Did you order room service while I was in the restroom."
"Alex I am four years old. I don't know how to order room service." He rolls his eyes at her.
"Right" Alex says as she walks to the door not sure if she believes the boy. He is way to clever for a four year old. Opening the door she is to shocked to say anything instead she looks down at her phone to see the time of the last message she received from Piper and what the time is now and then looks back up at the blond standing in the doorway.
"Well are you going to let me in so we can talk about this face to face or are you going to stand there staring at me the whole night." She softly smiles at Alex.
The voice on the other side of the doorframe, however, managed to grab Cameron's attention away from the television. "Mommy" He shouts and comes running to his mother. Piper bends down knowing he is going to jump and she catches him picking him up and wrapping him up in a tight hug, kissing the side of his head. Alex smiles at the picture in front of her and steps to the side so Piper can walk into the hotel room.
"What are you doing here?" Cameron smiles at his mother "Are you having a sleepover with us?" He excitedly enquires.
Before she can answer Alex interrupts "The bigger question is how the fuck did you get here so quick. Did you fly?"
"Alex, you are swearing" Piper scolds "And no I did not fly. The hotel is 10 minutes from my house by car" she pauses as Alex looks at the clock on the wall and back down at her phone again to calculate how much time has passed. When she looks up at Piper quizzically the blond continues "And six by bike."
The horrific expression on Alex's face would have been comical if Piper wasn't in such a downer of a mood. "Excuse me what?"
"Don't be so dramatic Alex."
"You said you don't know how to ride and you shouldn't even be on a bike in your condition." Alex can't help but to raise her voice a bit.
"Will you not raise your voice, please." Piper begs
"Sorry" Alex mumbles before she allows Piper to continue.
"I never said I don't know how to ride. I said I don't like bikes. And in my condition, really Alex you make it sound like I am pregnant or fragile."
"You are fragile right now."
"I didn't come here to fight about a fucking bike Alex. Do you want to talk or not."
"Mommy now you are swearing" And suddenly they realise they have been at each other in front of two little prying eyes.
"Sorry baby. Why don't I go put the TV on for you in the bedroom and you can watch your cartoons there so Alex and I don't disturb you."
"Yeah, because you are really loud and I can't hear anything." He dramatically sighs.
Alex and Piper can help but smile at this. As soon as Piper returns she takes a seat on the opposite side to Alex on the couch. "So where were we?"
"About the bike or Braydon." Alex asks sarcastically.
Piper lets out a frustrating grunt "Alex"
"You are not riding that thing back home Piper." And the blond just rolls her eyes at Alex "I am serious. You won't win this argument. You can take the car."
"And how do you expect to get my son to school in the morning?"
"We will get to that. Now if I recall correctly you were at 'things got emotional' to which I replied it is understandable."
Piper continues, "So yes, things got quite emotional. For me as well, but especially for him. In all the years I have known him I have never seen him cry. But today he was an emotional wreck. He cried for me. He cried for his son and the lost time for which he would never be able to make up. He cried for the way his family treated me and his son. It's like years of emotion just came out all in one and then I cracked as well. We held onto each other while we cried for all the reasons we haven't cried since we got ripped apart and when he pulled away he kissed me. It took me a couple of second but, yes, I kissed him back. You must understand Alex, we didn't split up because we couldn't stand to be together anymore or because we didn't love each other anymore or because we even had a fucking say in the matter. We got ripped apart without either one of us having a say in the matter. So it's not like I hate him Alex. He never caused me any heartache or harm. His family did, but not to his knowledge and I know deep down that if the accident didn't happen we probably would still be together, happily married, raising our son."
"I understand all of that, I really do. I told you all of this before and I will even understand if you admit that you still love him." Alex replies hoping that Piper picks up on the hidden question, but the blond just nods in understanding to Alex's reply so she knows she will have to voice her thoughts. "So do you" pause, deep breath "Still love him, that is, I mean there was the dry humping Larry mentioned and it might have gone further if he didn't show up."
"Oh yes, that was what I was busy explaining on the texts. Now I remember. There was no dry humping. Larry was just being a pissy arsehole. I was sitting on the couch and Braydon was sitting next to me. It was not even close to humping, god"
"So you wouldn't have slept with him."
"Alex, no. I wouldn't do that. I just woke up in your arms. I wasn't going to jump into bed with the next person. What do you think of me."
"I'm sorry." Alex apologises, but Piper just waves of the apology.
"Things were just really emotional as I explained to you just now. Do I still love him?" Piper considers the question "Honestly Alex, I probably still do yes, because I never had a say in not loving him anymore." Alex just nods in understanding so she continues "but that does not mean anything right now. I asked Larry to leave, because I know that ship has sailed. I did not ask him to leave to get back with Braydon. I have also explained to Braydon that what happened was a one time thing and that we need to take our time and figure this out." She takes a deep breath before she continues because she does not know what reaction to expect from the brunette. "I am taking a break from relationships Alex." Alex's eyes snaps up to meet Pipers to make sure she understands exactly what the blond is saying and she knows she does understand correctly. "Any relationship with anyone. I have to think about Cameron right now. And I need to pick up the pieces of my life. I cant make anybody happy while I don't even know where I am in my life currently."
Alex deep down expected this but she just wasn't prepared to hear it yet but she does understand so she lets Piper know "I understand."
Piper moves closer to Alex and takes one of her hands looking her in the eyes so she knows she is sincere in saying this "I really am sorry Alex. Really I am. I just really need time. I don't expect you to wait for me. I don't expect Braydon to wait for me or even Larry. That would not be fair."
Alex can see this is tearing Piper apart even more. "Don't worry about it Piper. Really, what's meant to be will be. I really do care about you and I just want to see you put the pieces back together. For your sake as well as Cameron's." She concludes with a reassuring smile and squeezes Pipers hand.
"You really are a great friend you know that. You don't even know how much you are helping."
"I'm not even doing anything" Alex protests.
"You are doing more than you think. It's not always about what you physically do or say. Sometimes it's just about being."
"Well I am glad I could help." Alex laughs as she fall back against the back of the couch, wrapping an arm around Pipers shoulders and pulling the blond down to lie with her head on Alex's shoulder. There is nothing sexual about the gesture. It is purely comforting and to say that Piper is grateful for the comfort is an understatement. She lets it be known with a grateful sigh.
After a couple minutes silence Pipers speaks up again, still keeping her head on the brunettes shoulder. "I don't know how to tell him. He has asked me about his father a couple of times and I know he will be glad to get to know his father, but I am just not sure how the initial shock would affect him, if it would even affect him at all. I just don't want to make the wrong decision and handle the situation all wrong."
"Well, it might be a little easier than you think." At that response the blond lifts her head meeting Alex's gaze letting her know to continue. "Cameron and I have spoken about Braydon." And the horrified look and the way Pipers shoulders tenses Alex quickly corrects her. "I didn't tell him" to which Piper visibly relaxes "He was just very sad when Braydon couldn't go to the park with us earlier and he also mentioned that he likes your new friend and he brought him up a couple of times, so maybe he is feeling some kind of a bond with him already and maybe it would not be such a bad thing to let him know your friend which he already likes so much is actually his father. I think he will take the news very well."
Alex can see the relieve crossing Pipers face as her eyes lights up and it looks like the woman has just dropped a mountain from her shoulders. "Yeah?" Is the only response she has.
"Yeah." Alex reassures her. "I don't want to mingle because I know it's not my place but I will offer advice and you can do with it what you want. In my opinion I think you should just tell him. Sooner rather than later."
"Like now?" Piper interrupts and Alex can't help but laugh.
"No, not like now. You and Braydon obviously have to tell him together, so I was thinking maybe let the kid skip school for once in his life tomorrow and you and Braydon can come and pick him up in the morning and take him to the park for some ice cream and tell him." Alex pauses for a second before she quickly adds "And that solves the whole car, bike problem."
Piper lets out a small chuckle "Clever Vause, very clever. And I think he eats way to much ice cream these days." She thinks for a while. "I will call Braydon on my way home and ask him what he thinks. I will let you know." And with that Piper has a new jump in her step as she gets up ready to leave. "Keys." She holds out her hand, while with the other hand throwing the bike keys at Alex. "You can keep these."
Alex hands her the car keys "There is no such thing as to much ice cream." She dramatically ads and for the first time since Piper opened her front door that morning she laughs. Really laughs. Not smiling, not chuckling, but laughs.
