Chapter Seven

Date Night Thing

Piper was actually nervous when she went to get Alex for their dinner. They technically had to go out of bounds for the dinner, but Red smoothed things over with the guards. Piper was thankful because she was nervous enough without having to worry about getting another SHOT on her record. She put on some lip gloss and wore her tailored pants...she also had to stop by and see Daya to pick up a present. She was very worried about her baby and Piper was happy to get her some stuff on her commissary to help out. She told her she could pay her back with three drawings. Art seemed to help her calm down and that was a good thing.

Alex had her hair up. She hardly wore it that way but it looked great. Piper felt her mouth go dry when she saw Alex's expression. She looked at Piper like she was a gazelle and Alex the ravenous lioness. That image made her smile some and she was rewarded with a return smile.

"You look nice," Sophia said to Piper as she walked by her. She had been back from the SHU for just a few weeks. She had changed. The salon had been shut down while she was away and many of the girls wanted her to open it up again. She had refused. Sophia spent most of her time quietly with Taystee or Sister Ingalls. She played solitaire in the recreation room and stuck to herself. She smiled at Piper though and they would chat a little now and again. She always took a moment to speak to her because she wanted her to know that she didn't share in the transphobia that led to her problems before.

"Thanks," she said breathlessly, then darted a nervous glance at Alex.

"Oh she thinks you look nice too...I think you may have taken her breath away. You two have fun," she said with a smile. Piper bit her bottom lip and walked up to Alex.

"Every single time you bite that lip, you make me want to kiss you silly," Alex murmured as she approached. Piper actually felt her heart jump in her chest at the silky sexy sound of her voice.

She cleared her throat and leaned closer, "Exactly how does one kiss another person to "silly?" I've always wondered about that phrase." Piper went around to hold her chair and made a show of escorting Alex out the door. Poussey whistled as they passed and it made Alex blush. There were no secrets in prison. They all knew this was a date for them.

"If you're lucky enough, you might just find out," Alex shot back as they headed down the hall. Piper grinned. She held her breath when they passed down the hallway towards the cafe after hours. They were officially out of bounds. She cut through the door that Red took her through earlier and they appeared in the back kitchen. They arrived behind the Judy King. Piper's mother loved her and had asked Piper to get her an autograph over the phone. Piper had forged her name on a napkin and sent it to her mother with the note that she would deny getting her the autograph for the rest of her life. Alex pulled out her seat and Piper's eyes flashed with delight as she sat down first. Alex used to do that when they went out to fancy restaurants in France.

"How quaint," Judy King said about the table setting. "I must say though Red, when I heard about your special meals I was taken aback that everyone wanted a seat at the table. I was of course, judging by the barely edible meals-"

Everyone at the table but Red, responded- "She doesn't cook that". Judy seemed perplexed by the response.

"It is prepackaged. She used to actually get ingredients and cook them for us, but once the corporation took over the prison, they send this awful prepackaged crap. She does her best to make it edible but there is little she can do about it. So, you see...this freshly cooked, home grown, organic meal is a treat. One, I am so very thankful for Red," Piper answered. She then put her napkin in her lap gracefully.

"This is made from our last fresh vegetables so this meal will feature more of the root vegetables.. It was a fruitful but small garden," Red said with a note of regret in her voice. Piper's heart raced at the very thought of the garden.

"You had other such meals? This wasn't just for me?" King said completely stunned.

Alex laughed. "Uh no, these meals come from Red's heart and your being here is just an example of her grace. Um, thank you Red for my invite as well and everything else you do for Pipes..for us." Piper was stunned at how honest and open she was being wtih Red.

Red made one of those sounds and then set the table with the food. The Varinky, a ravioli type entree was places out with the beet salad and whipped califlower that Piper wasn't expecting. Everyone got the same amount and Piper's mouth was watering from the smells. Red sat down at the head of teh table and gave a nod so the kitchen staff tore into the food. Piper watched Alex take her first bite and couldn't help but smile at how her eyes rolled back. She took her first bite as well and moaned with pleasure. Judy King tasted it like she was trying to figure out all the ingredients.

"Wonderful Russian Fare, Red. I'm sure you were raised up on such food," she said kindly. Somehow though, it hit Piper as a thinly veiled insult...as if Red couldn't cook anything else.

"My mother's food was much better...but yes I was raised on this..much like you were on fried chicken, pork chops, and gravy on everything," Red shot back. Piper ate some of the beet salad...something she usually couldn't stand, and it was so good it brought tears to her eyes. She dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin and took a sip of her fresh cool water. She wished she had a nice dry white to go with the food. The girls were all talking about how fun it was to learn to make pasta.

"I have enough dried goods hidden back to make pasta for a few meals, but with no new orders coming into replenish them, we are limited," Red said with a sigh. Judy King seemed really perplexed by these facts.

"I guess I see why I was placed in the laundry and not kitchen...there is no real cooking going on there," she said. Everyone got quiet and Red squinted her eyes at her.

"When I first got here, it didn't even occur to me that someone would take pride in their prison job. I insulted the food...food that was so much better than the slop the corporate idiots are feeding us now. I was taught a rather powerful lesson. I suggest you shut your trap and use it to taste the magnificent cooking that came out of the kitchen or you can learn what hunger feels like," Piper said through clenched teeth.

The girls all looked at Piper and even Alex was surprised by her defense of Red. " My daughter is protective. I agree with you that the mess they give us to feed you is disgusting. This is why I started these meals. I can't feed us all but at least some of us can enjoy good food now and again. Save room for dessert because Maritza prepared delicious cupcakes and thanks to Healy, we have fresh fruit for the top," Red said in a placating tone that calmed the table. King looked at Piper to Red and she could tell she was realizing that the 'daughter' comment wasn't biological.

Piper couldn't believe she called her daughter. She looked at Red with an astonished look on her face. She nodded to her and then sipped her water before putting her attention back on her plate. Alex leaned over and whispered, "Don't worry, Carol will never hear it from my lips." King was quiet through the rest of the meal. The cupcakes were moist and delicious. Maritza was so proud. She drove the van now but still helped in the kitchen when not on a run. She didn't get to help make the pasta so Red stayed late with her to teach her how to make cupcakes from scratch. She seemed sad sometimes and not her usual perky self. She and Flacca were still close but she really couldn't hide anything as her face was an open book. As mean as Red could be, Piper now saw how she took care of so many people in small ways. Piper and Alex stayed to clean up. They sent the girls out since they had all helped with the meal. Judy King didn't offer and Piper was thankful, though she thought a Southern lady would have better manners.

Alex washed down the table while Piper finished cleaning the pans. She had to stop herself from licking the one that contained the Russian pasta dish. She knew she wouldn't taste such fine food again until she was out. They turned off the lights and walked out hand in hand. They had worked in silence really, both of them lost in their own thoughts.

"You've got another family now. I thought you two hated each other," Alex said quietly as they both let go of each other's hands as they turned the corner heading towards a guarded area.

"Surprised the fuck out of me...I mean, I've tried to be nice to her as her bunkie. I've tried to be helpful and honest. I thought we were on good terms but...wow. I didn't expect to be family. I guess I do feel it though because that bitch and her subtle put downs of Red-"

"Pissed you the fuck off...you were the first to defend her each time," Alex pointed out. Piper brought up the fact that she did as well. "The food was the best defense. She can complain or say what she wants, the Diva ate each and every bite."

Piper laughed and nodded. There wasn't a crumb left on anyone's plate. She felt full and satisfied for the first time. The best food she ate nowadays was a casserole or some other prison concoction from the microwave. She was getting rather good at the cheesecake recipe and had even had a request from Maureen to make it for Suzanne's birthday. She had offered to pay her but Piper made it for free. She still felt like she owed Suzanne for keeping her from going to maximum. Alex told Piper that Red had outdone herself and it was better than the corn quiche she made last month.

They had to get back for count but Piper had to go to the bathroom first. She stopped before the narrow hall that led down to the bathroom and Alex turned to look at her with a puzzled expression. " I enjoyed our date. Thank you very much for such a fine evening," she said with a shy blush. Alex's eyes flashed.

"I kinda like this date night thing. It was fun, um I'd like to do it again sometime soon...maybe a picnic or we could read together. My aunt is sending me some books soon," Alex offered.

Piper grinned big and nodded. "I'd like that. Um..have a good night," she said and then she turned to go to the bathroom. It was so odd how giddy she felt. It was like they started to date all over again. They met, talked on the phone a few times, met each other out at different places and then they ended up in bed. It had been a whirlwind courtship if you forget the part about Alex being with someone at the time, it had been rather magical. Alex was the first person she had ever fought for in her life. She pressed her to leave Sylvie because she wanted her for herself. Now, this time, she had to make up for her own mistakes. She had to show Alex that being her girlfriend was what she needed in her life.

Piper was fast about her trip to the bathroom and barely made it back in time for count. It only took three times to get it right this time. Lots of folks came by to hear how it went with the meal. Judy King was being kept in the bunk house rooms where you used to stay until a bed opened up. Piper was glad she wasn't there. Red told them all she loved the food but had a few questions about the regular menu. Everyone chimed in how they knew it wasn't Red's fault the food was so bad. It made her smile and that was wonderful.

That night Piper dreamed she was in Paris again at that club. This time however, it was Alex that Kubra was fucking..it was Alex's body that went limp like a rag doll. She tried to get closer to her but it seemed so far away. Piper woke with Alex leaning over her bunk, trying to get her quiet. She was sweating all over and her heart wouldn't stop racing.

"Hey, I'm right here...it's okay...no one is hurting me Pipes, shhhh now...shhh," she said in a quiet calming tone. Piper held her near and she rocked her back and forth for a little while.

"Everything okay, inmate?"

Piper didn't recognize the guard's voice but Alex told him it was fine, just a nightmare. Everyone seemed to settle down and that is when Piper realized she must have been shouting. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry."

Alex told her it was alright and she tried to believe her. She sent her back to her own bunk and spent the rest of the night trying to pick Alex's breathing out from the rest of her cube. Nicky had slept through it all but she knew she had awakened Red. She felt awful because Red got up so early to go to the cafeteria to get it ready for breakfast. Piper didn't understand why that dream chose to surface at that moment. She had one of the best days...no weekends she'd had with Alex since they found themselves incarcerated together. Maybe it had been meeting with her lawyer that triggered the dream. She had ones of Aydin before but this was very specific. She thought about it closely and wondered if perhaps her mind wasn't trying to tell her something.

She had the dream for the next five nights. Alex got up only twice to get her to be quiet. She woke herself up before the screaming started before. She wasn't sleeping well and Alex was worried. Piper was so tired that work was becoming difficult.

"You sewed the leg hole together Chapman, that is the third time today. You're going to get docked in pay if you keep this up," one of the foreman announced to her in a loud voice. Piper apologized and started over on a new pair. Flacca took the discarded one and put it in her pants. She knew that Flacca could fix it no problem and use it for her business. Somehow, Boo had found another way out and they were back in business. Not as many girls were participating now but there was some money coming in and Piper was glad because Flacca told her that her mom wasn't getting any better.

It was her last pair of the day when she sort of dozed off and then felt the piercing pain in her finger. The needle had gone through her middle finger and got stuck coming back out. It hurt like hell and Piper cussed like a sailor. Flacca was right there to help her. Black Cindy, nearly passed out at the sight of her blood.

Piper had to go to the infirmary with a pair of red panties wrapped around her finger. She felt like an idiot. Flacca went with her to make sure she didn't pass out and Piper could tell the foreman was done with her.

"I think I just got fired from my first prison job," Piper said in an attempt at levity.

"Yeah, well you're exhausted. You shouldn't operate machinery on little to no sleep Chapman," Flacca said in a voice that seemed much older. Piper had grown to admire the young woman. She had used her to show her power when she first started the business and had regretted her actions. The nurse has to put in three stitches and told Piper she couldn't work for a week.

"Do I get an antibiotic?"

He actually laughed and shook his head. "No, let's just hope the needle was somewhat clean." Piper left worried about getting gangrene in her finger. He did give her a pill for the pain. She hadn't eaten much at lunch so it kind of hurt her stomach. She felt rather loopy, like she was at a rave with some good x or something. She most have wobbled a bit in the hallway because an officer approached her.

"Are you stoned inmate?" he asked. He was a new one, Johnson. He had tazed a girl for resisting chains and cuffs when they were being escorted around the campus. He was huge and scared Piper.

"Um no..I hurt my finger and they gave me some meds," she began. He didn't seem to believe her.

"Oh there you are Chapman. I heard about your accident, I'll help her back to her bunk officer," Nicky said in a polite tone. She put her arm around Piper and started down the hall. He decided to let it go and Piper was thankful.

"Thanks...I am a bit light headed," she said with a smile. Lorna came around the corner and saw Nicky walking arm and arm with Piper. Piper started to say hi, but Nicky turned her head and kissed her dead on the lips. Piper was stunned. Her eyes got big and she just froze.

"I'm so glad you're okay baby," Nicky said in a husky voice.

"What the fuck, Nicky!" Piper managed once Lorna hurried passed them. Nicky shrugged and told her that Lorna deserved to stew in her own jealousy. Piper jerked away from her but nearly fell. "That wasn't cool! She will tell Alex."

"Not if I see her first...and I probably will. Look, Lorna is the one that told me she loved me then married a fucking goon a few weeks later," Nicky spat out. Piper could tell it really bothered her that she was married now.

"Well we thought you were gone for good...she was a mess after you left, ask anyone. She was desperate not to be alone. Me...I'm desperate to hold on to Alex, so fix this Nichols, you owe me," Piper warned and she made her own way back to her bunk. The meds did help her to pass out and Piper slept hard. When she woke a good while later, it was dark in the dorm and everyone was sleeping. Piper couldn't believe she slept through three counts and dinner. She was so thirsty though and had to get up for some water. Her finger really ached now the meds wore off and Piper had a hard time trying to open the bottle of water.

"Here...let me baby," Alex whispered. She was beside Piper so suddenly that it startled her and she almost dropped the water bottle. Alex opened it and Piper drank it greedily. "Easy...you don't have much on your stomach." Piper slowed her drinking and Alex helped her to ease down into a desk.

"I'm sorry I keep getting hurt...the busted nose, now this," Piper whispered with disgust. She was never sick or hurt. She went out of her way to stay healthy and not have to go to medical there or anywhere.

Alex shrugged and rubbed her arm in a comforting way. "Not your fault, you are not the first to be hurt by a guard here since they added all the new prisoners. Plus, no sleep means accidents will happen Piper. You want to tell me what the dreams are about?" She hadn't asked Piper about them before. Piper shook her head and reached out to push some of the hair from her girlfriend's eyes. She drew her good hand back and said she was sorry.

Alex frowned as if she was confused. "I didn't mean to touch you first," Piper explained. Alex smiled at her and kissed her good hand. "Oh did Nicky explain-"

"Yes...and I told her not to do that to you again. She is messed up more than she wants anyone to know over Morello," Alex whispered. Piper nodded and reached out with her good hand again to stroke Alex's cheek. She was kneeling beside Piper's chair and they just looked at one another in the dim light. It never got completely dark in dorm area. There was light enough to see by at all times. Alex told her she had to sleep with the lights on when she got out. Would she have that problem as well.

"You think you can sleep some more?" Alex offered. Piper's finger hurt too much and she just shook her head. "Want some Aspirin?" Piper nodded and Alex went to her desk area, the one she shared with Red and got her some pills. She gave her some and Piper popped them in her mouth and used what was left of her water to take them. She moved to go back to her bunk and Alex tried to steady her as she walked.

"I'm fine, you need to sleep...you could chop off ya foot with a shovel or something," Piper murmured. This made Alex laugh and that made Piper feel better instantly. She climbed into her bunk and watched Alex climb carefully and gracefully back into her bed. She didn't bother Red at all. Piper watched her from below and Alex looked down where Piper lay. She realized that Alex had probably been dozing on and off all night, waiting to see if Piper woke up. Her girl needed her sleep and caffeine. Piper hoped she didn't mess her up.

The next morning she woke and went to breakfast with her shift. Piper's finger really hurt. She brought some more Aspirin with her to breakfast. She knew she needed to take it with some food. Red made sure Piper got some hot oatmeal to eat. It was much better than the supposed chipped beef gravy over a hard biscuit everyone else had at the table. NO one complained though. Morello wasn't sitting with them and she shot Piper and evil glare as she sat down.

"You need to tell Morello we aren't fucking Nicky," Piper started out as soon as Nichols sat down. Yoga Jones about choked on her coffee and Gina laughed out loud.

"Now why would I do that? I worked hard to get her to think I've moved on with you. She thinks Vause and I are sharing you. I get you on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where as she gets ya the rest of the time...out of courtesy for your prior relationship," Nicky said with immense pride. Other girls were looking over at them and Piper realized that half the prison believed that crap.

"Nicky, I swear I'm going to kill you if you keep spreading that shit. We are legitimately trying to make it this time for whatever time we have left. Don't fuck it up for us," Alex said a loud tone. Nicky looked at her as if she had spoken a foreign language.

"What does that mean exactly, Vause? You're trying to make it this time as long as you aren't offered a deal to leave her hanging for perjury? Are you trying to make it this time, meaning you can't take off and leave her in prison while you travel about the world on your own? Maybe, you can just not like what she does to make extra money in here and push her off on some stealing bitch- that takes her for everything she earned. So you're trying not to do that to her and that is why I shouldn't use my friend here to get back at the bitch that broke my heart?" Nicky said in a low sarcastic and thoroughly fed up voice. Alex was stunned. Nicky had always been in between, just a mutual friend they both could speak to about the shit in their lives.

"No, she's right, Pipes. This time means, I am trying to see her as an equal, not some kid I fell in love with that tried to make me see my job was ruining my life. This time, I'm trying to trust her because she fucking cheated on me with the bitch that stole her money...and the kidding you're doing to get back at Morello is making my own stomach twist with jealousy and fear. You aren't in our relationship and we know it looks fucked up from the outside...fuck it is messed up from the inside as well. But it so our relationship...it isn't our fault you fell in love with a straight girl that got married while your ass was in Maximum," Alex answered back. Nicky snorted from the remark and got up to leave the table. No one was laughing now but Piper's head was spinning with all that Alex said. They got up to clear their trays and Piper headed back to the dorm to rest. She knew boredom was going to be a factor but maybe she could catch sleep during the day if her nightmares kept it from her at night.

She pulled Alex to the side before she headed out to her job. "I...didn't...I mean I kissed her like three times and let her tattoo me and I let her too close in the business...especially after she stopped me from giving a hand job- but I didn't fuck her," Piper said clearly to her. "She asked me, I said I wasn't...that I was still...with..." Piper knew she was rambling but she brought her hand up to her heart. Alex seemed stunned.

"In the chapel?"

Piper shook her head, "She gave me the tattoo and we kissed. I asked her to be my partner, in business...is what I meant...but I would have taken more...I admit it, but she told me she was getting out in a few days. I was sad she was leaving; I didn't know she just got close to me to steal me blind before she got out. I'm fucking sorry for what I did, but I didn't...Alex, I've not been inside of anyone or tasted anyone but you since we met again." Piper said the last part in a hushed whisper. She knew it was semantics but she wanted Alex to know. She would have slept with Stella, the girl was hot and she had convinced herself that Alex had changed and resented her success. She had been a fucking idiot, that was high on the power of her own making.

But she didn't go through with it and she wanted Alex to know. She just nodded at Piper and went out the door. Maybe she shouldn't had been so specific...like telling her the exact times she kissed her. Piper wanted to be honest with her though and that was a start. She went back to her bunk and cradled her sore finger on her chest as she tried to get some sleep. She woke some time later to see a CO, checking out the bunks. He was looking into the cube beside them when Donaldson asked him what he was doing.

"Oh, just checking out the lay of the land," he said in a jovial manner.

"Check out what you are told to check out. I'll train you how to search a bunk at a later date, until then...stay away from their stuff. They aren't allowed much privacy but unless you have a reason to search it, you're just being a nosey fuck," he responded.

"No worries, thanks for watching out for me...I'll go check the side doors," he said and he left the area. Piper looked over at him and she saw that Donaldson watched him walk out. She moved over closer to him and he seemed a bit startled at first.

"Watch out for that one, I don't think they properly vet these new hires," he said in a low tone.

Piper nodded and as he walked off she whispered, "You have no idea how right you are."

***I love all the reviews. I'm glad that so many of you appreciate how this story has unfolded. Season three as masterfully acted but it was very hard on our girls. I really don't like how Piper has grown. There were two other lil things that bugged me about this season 1) Piper saying she has 6-12 months left to Stella...now she may have just said that to make it seem like she has more time or to be vague. Piper has three months left on her sentence. 2) Now this one I REALLY didn't like because it is didn't follow the story. She apologized to Boo for taking her dildo and using it to frame Stella. Piper was given the dildo back by Boo at Christmas and left it in the snow when Pensatucky cut her with the cross. ANYWAY- please review. I have the story arc completed and I do hope you like how I'm going to tell this tale. Please Review! The more you give me the faster I write...SEE I told you if you reviewed I'd write more! Peace Fae***