Piper and Polly were sitting in a booth near the back of the pub. They had come out for a few drinks so Polly could tell Piper all about her new boyfriend Pete.
Alex and Nicky sat on the other side of the pub. Alex was listening to Nicky rant about a lover's quarrel in which she and Lorna were currently entangled.
A month had passed since Alex was at this pub. A month since she met that beautiful blonde woman. As Nicky spoke, Alex found herself looking around the pub, hoping she'd see those familiar blue eyes again. She couldn't deny that within the past month her thoughts had drifted to the blonde almost daily. Alex still didn't understand how someone she barely knew could have such a hold over her.
Piper too couldn't help but scan the crowd in hopes of seeing the tall brunette. Piper had come to this pub twice since the night she met the brunette, hoping to accidentally run into her on purpose. Both nights she went home disappointed.
As Polly went on about Pete, Piper noticed a woman pass her from behind and head towards the bathroom. Piper's heart skipped a beat. It was her. She couldn't believe it. The brunette was actually here tonight. Thankfully Polly had finally taken a breath and there was a break in conversation.
"Hey, Pol, could you go to the bar and get us another round?" Piper asked. She didn't want an audience when she spoke to the brunette.
"Sure, Pipes," Polly said, oblivious to Piper's ulterior motive, and headed to the bar.
Piper took a deep breath. This was it.
As Alex walked back towards Piper, the blonde reached out and grabbed her wrist, sliding her hand down to hold the brunette's. Alex, lost in her thoughts about getting back to her table and to Nicky's rant, hadn't noticed the blonde woman and immediately looked down to see who had grabbed her.
"Hey! It's you." Alex thought she was seeing things. A whole month of assuming she'd never see the blonde again and here she was right in front of her. Holding her hand.
"It's me. Piper." She couldn't stop smiling. She was so happy that she had finally found the brunette.
"I'm Alex." Alex couldn't believe how much happier Piper looked. The wide, mega-watt smile on her face was cute as hell. "Well you look like you're doing a lot better than the last time I saw you. How have you been?"
"Yes, a lot better. I'm good! Everything's really good." Piper reluctantly let go of Alex's hand, realizing it was probably weird that she was still holding it. Alex wished she hadn't let go.
"That's great! Glad to hear it."
"I never got the chance to thank you," Piper said.
"Thank me? For what?"
"For talking with me that night. You were so nice. You made me forget for a few minutes about all the shit that happened that day."
"Oh, it was nothing. I'm glad I could help."
Alex wanted so badly to ask Piper to leave with her. And not even to leave just to fall into bed. To go anywhere and just talk and, hell, just hold each other. The blonde was melting Alex's heart and she couldn't believe how sappy she was becoming. 'But she's obviously here with someone and I can't ditch Nicky,' Alex thought. Alex then immediately wanted to ask for Piper's number. 'But what were the rules? I've never been in a relationship, I have no idea how this works. How long after a break up do I need to wait to ask? Obviously the night of her break up was too soon, but what about a month later?' Alex suddenly realized she didn't even know if Piper was still available. 'What if she got back together with her ex? What if she had met someone else in the past month?' Alex felt her heart sink at the possibility.
"You still owe me that drink, you know," Piper said flirtatiously.
And just like that, Alex's heart shot back up and began to beat wildly.
"Yo, Vause! I need to get out of here! Let's go!"
And right back down it went.
"Motherfucker," Alex grumbled under her breath.
'Fucking wild haired piece of shit…'Alex's mind drifted with thoughts of how much she hated Nicky in this moment.
"Friend of yours?"
"Unfortunately. She had a fight with her girlfriend, so apparently everyone else has to suffer."
Piper let out a small laugh. She could see how disappointed Alex was right now. Piper knew she would have stayed for that drink.
"Fuck, I'm sorry," Alex said apologetically.
Piper was disappointed too, although she didn't know what she would have said or done when Polly came back.
"It's okay. No problem. Maybe another time? Can I…Can I get your number?" Piper was so proud of herself for getting the words out. She let out a deep breath, hoping Alex didn't notice.
Alex's heart did a somersault and she couldn't contain the ear to ear grin that stretched across her face. She didn't care that she probably looked ridiculous. Piper's heart warmed at seeing Alex's reaction.
"Absolutely!"
Piper handed Alex a pen and Alex wrote her number on a napkin.
"I should go. I'll talk to you later?"
"Mm-hmm. Bye, Alex."
"Bye, Piper."
It was three weeks later when Piper was at her favorite coffee shop, just a few blocks from her house. She was cursing herself, like she did everyday, for not having called Alex yet. She had felt so confident when she asked Alex for her number, but the next morning that feeling was all but gone. She tried to call Alex several times, but always got too nervous and never knew what to say. And the longer it took for her to call, the more difficult it became. Piper hated how neurotic she could be. She had put Alex's number into her phone immediately after Alex left that night. Piper even still had the napkin Alex wrote it on.
Coffee in hand, Piper began to exit the coffee shop and ran smack into Alex.
"Alex."
"Piper. You never called."
'Jesus, Alex!' Alex thought to herself. 'Smooth. You sound so fucking needy.' She couldn't believe she had just blurted that out. She was so happy to see Piper again. After the blonde never called, Alex was beginning to think she'd never see her again.
"God, I know, I'm so sorry, I wanted to, really, I tried, but I just got nervous and didn't know what to say and then so much time had passed and…" Piper was rambling, talking as fast as she could. Alex smiled, happy Piper didn't think she had sounded needy or desperate. Alex also liked the fact that Piper had at least thought a lot about calling her.
"Whoa, kid. It's okay. Let me see your phone."
Piper looked at Alex quizzically, her eyebrows furrowing, but handed Alex her phone nonetheless.
Alex scrolled through Piper's contacts and found her own name. She pushed the call button. Alex saved the new number that popped up on her phone.
"Just in case you continue not to call," Alex said, winking at Piper.
Piper was relieved and so thankful her path had crossed again with Alex's.
"What are you doing here?" Piper asked.
"I had a meeting in the area. What are you doing today?"
"Oh, uh, not a whole lot. I have some errands to do."
"Do them tomorrow."
"What? Why?"
"Take a walk with me?"
"Yes." Piper answered before Alex could even finish asking.
They left the coffee shop and began to stroll lazily through the city; no real destination in mind; all the while talking without really trying. They talked about everything - when they were younger, school, jobs, past relationships, friends, books, movies, music, politics, religion - no topic was off limits.
Alex learned about Piper's comfortable childhood in WASPy Connecticut with her two brothers. Piper listened as Alex told her about growing up in New Jersey with just her mom.
"Are you close with your family?" Alex asked.
Piper huffed. "Close isn't exactly the word I would use. I talk to Cal pretty often, Danny just a couple times a year. And my dad more than my mom. She's very into appearances and what the neighbors will think. I've never lived up to what she wanted me to be. In college and for a year after I dated this guy Larry. Perfect marriage material. Good family, got a job for the Times, probably would have married me and given Carol Chapman the grandchildren she requires. But I broke it off. It just didn't feel right. I didn't love him the way he needed me to. I think my mom took the break up harder than either of us did. And then later when I started dating a woman I went from being her biggest disappointment to public enemy number one."
Alex looked over at Piper and saw her clenched jaw, her unfocused eyes. Alex couldn't understand how anyone, let alone Piper's own mother, could not love her unconditionally. Alex reached out and tucked Piper's hair behind her ear. Piper turned and smiled, her eyes not meeting Alex's. Piper was comforted by Alex's small gesture. It made her feel like Alex was on her side.
Piper exhaled deeply, pushing the thoughts of her family out of her head. "What about your mom? Are you still close?"
"Yeah. She's my best friend, actually," Alex said quietly. She almost felt guilty for having such a healthy relationship with Diane after what Piper just shared with her.
Piper could sense what Alex was thinking and wanted to let her know it was okay to go on. "That's great, Al. You're so lucky to have each other. Tell me more about her," Piper encouraged. So Alex did. Alex told Piper how her mom always worked tirelessly to make sure Alex was taken care of, how they shared tiny apartments as Alex grew up, how her mom taught Alex to stick up for herself, how even though they never really had very much Alex never knew she was missing out on anything. Piper loved seeing Alex talk about her mom. She saw how Alex's eyes lit up when she mentioned Diane. It was incredibly heartwarming and made Piper like Alex even more.
They zigzagged through the city - going through Washington Square Park, past the Flatiron Building, around the Empire State Building, talking, sharing memories and telling stories.
Piper was amazed by how much Alex knew about the city. Every block they passed Alex knew something about a building or an event that had happened there. Piper could listen to her talk all day. And she was so happy she was actually getting the opportunity to do so.
As they got to Herald Square Alex stopped.
"And right here is where I went missing!"
Piper laughed. "What do you mean went missing?!"
"I must have been about nine or so. I had been pestering my mom for years to take me to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. One year she was able to get time off work, so we woke up super early and headed into the city. We found a place to sit around here, kind of near the end of the parade, and I wandered off and got lost. Well, let me rephrase that, my mom claims I wandered off and got lost, but I knew exactly where I was the whole time. She found me a few minutes later. I had followed the Rainbow Brite float."
"I never really pegged you as a Rainbow Brite kind of girl." Piper couldn't help but smile.
"What can I say, kid? I've always been really into rainbows," Alex said with a wink.
As they got closer to the New York Public Library, each woman realized this was the other's favorite building in New York. Having covered the literature topic a few blocks back, neither was really surprised.
"We're such book nerds," Piper said.
"I'm totally okay with that," Alex replied.
They browsed through the library for an hour, stopping every now and then to read passages to the other from their favorite books. Piper recited Robert Frost poems nearly by heart and read passages of Pride and Prejudice aloud. Alex shared works by Jack Kerouac and her favorite Sylvia Plath poems. Alex's heart was bursting. Here she was, in her favorite building, with the most beautiful woman she had ever met, and they were talking endlessly about literature (and everything else for that matter). She'd never had this experience before; sharing something like this with another person. She'd never felt this before. This connection. It was overwhelming and scary, but at the same time incredibly calming. This was happiness. She was truly happy when she was with Piper.
As they continued to walk, Piper realized just how much of a fucking catch Alex was. She was what everyone looked for. She was the whole damn package. Alex was crazy gorgeous and sexy – obviously – but she was also incredibly intelligent. And thoughtful. And sweet. And funny. And had a good heart. Piper couldn't understand how she had gotten so lucky; how a woman like Alex was choosing to spend her time with Piper. Piper knew this was special.
They made their way through Times Square and down Broadway.
"I sat in gum at the Gershwin," Piper shared.
"What? How?" Alex asked.
"Some asshole had stuck chewed gum on the seat and I didn't see it when I sat down. It was all over the back of my pants. I couldn't get it off. But here's the best part: I was 14 and on a school field trip. Yeah. So the rest of my day was super awesome."
"Well that's a shitty story," Alex said. "Maybe we don't need to share everything."
"Shut up, Alex!" Piper laughed and pushed her away. Alex loved teasing Piper.
When they walked through Central Park, they stopped and got hot dogs from one of the street vendors for lunch. As they sat under a tree, taking a break from their walk, Piper asked Alex more about her previous relationships, or rather the lack there of.
"I don't know. I mean, I've never really felt the need to consistently spend time with someone in a romantic capacity. I've always liked to be able to do my own thing. Go where I want whenever I want. I like the freedom. Maybe it's an only child thing."
"Maybe you just haven't met the right person," Piper said, her tone serious. She was looking straight into Alex's eyes.
Alex couldn't deny that this very thought had been running through her mind constantly since meeting Piper. It was true that she had never wanted to "consistently spend time with someone in a romantic capacity," but that was before she met Piper. Before she knew what it could feel like. She wanted that with Piper. She wanted to see Piper every day. She wanted to tell Piper about her day. She wanted to hear about Piper's day. Fucking Nicky and her committed relationships speech. Alex knew that everything was different now that she had met Piper.
"Maybe I just haven't met the right person," Alex repeated, not breaking eye contact with Piper.
They stared at each other for a moment. Each woman stole quick glances to the other's lips. The distance between them seemed to be shrinking. A group of cyclists passed on a near by path, bells blaring, and the moment was gone.
They left Central Park and walked past the Guggenheim.
"Hey, where's your Popi store?" Alex asked.
"Oh, it's back towards where we started. It's in SoHo."
"Can we go there? I'd like to see it."
"Yeah, of course."
They were making their way down Park Avenue in a comfortable silence when Piper spoke.
"So you said you're a professional poker player, but what all does that entail exactly? You play like in tournaments?"
"Tournaments, teaching seminars, public speaking/appearance events, commentating gigs. Stuff like that."
"That's so interesting and different. I never knew people could make a living doing that. So you probably get to travel?"
"Yeah, a bit. That's definitely one of the perks."
"Hey!" Piper realized something. "That first night we met, you said you were usually good at reading people. That's why, huh? Because of the poker playing?"
"It sure is. You learn ways to read people - their body language, how they move their eyes, the patterns of their game. You pay close enough attention and you can see things they don't know they're revealing."
"What about me? Have you seen things I don't know I'm revealing?" Piper asked playfully.
Alex arched her eyebrow. "In fact, I have."
"Well, tell me!"
Alex laughed at this new game Piper seemed to have found. "Okay...Your nostrils flare when you're nervous, those black boots you have on are your favorite pair of shoes, and you have three different smiles…that I know of so far."
Piper stopped walking and thought for a moment. Alex stopped and stood beside her. 'Pretty good assessment,' Piper thought. 'The nostril thing I knew. And the boots thing is easy - I wear these like every day,' Piper continued to say to herself. For some reason, Piper was fixated on the idea of Alex noticing her smiles. Piper didn't even notice her own smiles. They were just involuntarily movements. The idea of Alex noticing something so common and ordinary, and making a distinction between those actions, made Piper's heart race. It was touching how attentive Alex was.
"Not bad," Piper said. "Tell me about the three smiles."
"The first is just a common, polite smile, that doesn't quite make it to your eyes. It's something you'd use to greet the cashier at the grocery store or use to wave goodbye to a woman you met at a pub seven weeks ago...and use to laugh at that same woman when she tried to buy you a drink."
Piper smiled, already loving how Alex is telling this story.
"The second is the one you're using right now. And what you'd use when asking for the phone number of said woman you'd met at said pub. It's a contagious, fear conquering, knock you over kind of smile. It's big, and bright, and perfect, and it reveals your dimples, and makes your eyes sparkle."
Piper's face softened as she heard the sincerity and pure joy in Alex's voice as she answered Piper. There had been other moments like this today, but this, right here, right now, was when Piper knew Alex had permanently placed herself in Piper's heart. Piper looked at Alex and lost herself in Alex's eyes.
"And the third?"
"The third is more mysterious. It seems to only make its appearance at really special times when you are overcome with extreme happiness and/or silliness. I've only seen this smile once," Alex says coyly.
"When?"
"Earlier today at Washington Square Park. You were playing with that lady's puppy and it jumped up on your lap and licked your face. You laughed and smiled so wide that your nose scrunched up. It was adorable."
Piper blushed. She was amazed by Alex. "Alex, I..." Piper trailed off, not even sure what she was going to say. They stood quietly, enjoying this moment.
Alex saw Piper's mouth curl into a sly smile. "What?"
"Tell me what I'm thinking right now."
"Jesus, Piper, I'm not clairvoyant, I just notice things sometimes."
Piper didn't accept this answer and looked back at Alex playfully. "Tell me!"
Alex squinted her eyes for effect, pretending to really try to read Piper.
"Hmmm...You're thinking 'I'm not going to think anything right now so she can't guess what I'm thinking.' "
Piper flinched. "Son of a bitch!" Piper stormed off in mock anger, trying her best not to laugh.
"Was that it?! Was I right?!" Alex called out to Piper.
Piper flipped Alex off without turning back to look at her. Alex was doubled over laughing. She took a few quick steps to catch up to Piper and grabbed her hand to stop her from walking away further. Piper took Alex's hand and interlaced their fingers. They stopped briefly and smiled sweetly at one another, realizing the step they'd just taken. They continued their walk hand in hand.
They meandered slowly through the Upper East Side. Alex pointed out her apartment building when they passed her block. They stopped a few times just to rest their feet and people watch. By the time they got near the Queensboro Bridge, it was nearly sunset.
"Come on. Let's walk out onto the bridge," Alex said.
"Really? I've never done that before."
"Pipes, how can you have lived here for almost eight years and never walked the Queensboro Bridge?"
"It just happens, Alex, it's not supernatural. I've walked the Brooklyn Bridge. I'm not an alien."
Alex just laughed at Piper's sassy comment and pulled her towards the bridge. They walked down about midway and stopped to stare out over the water and watch the sunset. Piper was now standing in front of Alex. Alex's arms were around Piper's waist and Piper was leaning her head back on Alex's shoulder.
"I can't believe how beautiful this is," Piper said. "The sunset and the boats out on the water. It's so peaceful."
"Mm-hmm," Alex whispered into Piper's ear. Alex had leaned down and rested her chin on Piper's shoulder.
Piper turned her head to look at Alex and saw Alex's eyes were closed.
"Alex..." she said softly.
Alex slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to meet Piper's gaze. Each woman again stole quick glances to the other's lips. They slowly moved closer until their lips found each other. They kissed slowly and patiently, wrapped in each other's arms. They put everything they were feeling into this first kiss they both so desperately craved. After a moment, Piper turned so she was facing Alex, wrapping her arms around Alex's neck. With her arms still around Piper's waist, Alex pulled her even closer. The kiss deepened and became more passionate. Their tongues explored each other's mouths. They kissed like it was all they had to do for the rest of their lives. They didn't care who walked by, how many strangers stared. Nothing else mattered except this kiss. Nothing else existed except Alex, Piper, and this kiss. Everything else was just background. They kissed until the sun had completely set. The lights of the city now greeted them. They turned and made their way off of the bridge and back to the city. Piper held Alex's hand and leaned into Alex as they walked.
Alex was surprised her heart hadn't completely burst from her chest. She had no idea this is what the world had in store for her when she woke up this morning. She couldn't have imagined this day in her wildest dreams. She squeezed Piper's hand just to make sure it was real.
Piper sighed contently and began to smile as she walked with Alex. 'This definitely feels like smile number three,' she thought. 'Overcome with extreme happiness is how Alex had described it. She was exactly right.' Piper squeezed Alex's hand back. She never wanted this day to end.
Returning to the city at night was a whole other experience. The energy was different. It felt new and exciting.
They stopped at around 37th and Madison for dinner, each woman hungry for Chinese food. Just as it had throughout the day, the conversation flowed freely and quickly during dinner. They stopped for ice cream as they continued south and made their way to SoHo. On their way they even stopped at what they now referred to as "their pub" and had a drink.
Piper was so excited to show Alex Popi. When they arrived, Alex was surprised by how large the store was.
"Wow! Good for you, Pipes!"
Piper was beaming. She loved being able to show off her store to Alex.
"Thanks, Al. We're really proud of it. Polly and I worked so hard. I still can't believe we actually run our own business. I'd show you around inside, but I don't have the keys with me."
"That's okay. I'll just have to come back." Alex smiled at Piper. Alex looked around the building some more, cupping her hands to the windows to get a peak. "So fucking awesome, Pipes." Alex kissed Piper's cheek.
"We're almost back to the coffee shop. Do you live near here?" Alex asked.
"Mm-hmm. Just a bit further down Church, actually."
"Shall we?" Alex held out her hand for Piper.
Piper was reluctant to take Alex's hand. Taking her hand meant walking home and saying good bye to Alex. Although Piper didn't want to admit it to herself, she knew today couldn't last forever. Plus she was exhausted. And her feet were killing her.
Piper eventually took Alex's hand, intertwining their fingers. They walked to Piper's apartment in silence, every now and then looking at each other and squeezing their hands.
The "walk" Alex had suggested that morning had turned into a nearly 14 hour tour of Manhattan.
They got to Piper's front door faster than she had expected. They stood there for a moment looking down at their hands, neither one wanting to let go of the other. Alex kissed the back of Piper's hand, then kissed Piper on the lips softly.
"Do you want to come in?" Piper asked.
Alex wanted to. She really fucking wanted to. But she knew if she went into Piper's apartment she wouldn't be able to control herself. Alex didn't want to rush this. Piper was different. Piper was special. Alex wanted to do everything right.
"I do. I want to more than anything, but I don't think I should. This day has been fucking perfect and I don't want to rush into anything."
Piper understood what Alex was saying. She had to remind herself that this was the first day she had ever really spent any time with Alex. That seemed so weird. Today had never felt like two strangers getting to know each other. It had felt like two friends reconnecting after having been apart. Nothing was ever awkward or forced. It seemed like they had always known each other...but had just never met.
"You're right. I don't want to rush into anything either."
"Go out with me next weekend." It wasn't really a question.
Piper smiled and pressed her lips to Alex's, kissing her deeply. Alex pressed back, squeezing Piper's body closer to hers. They kissed until their lips hurt; their tongues tired. Neither woman wanted to be the first to pull away. They eventually broke the kiss and stood with their foreheads together.
"Next weekend?" Alex offered again.
"Mm-hmm." Piper nodded.
Alex kissed Piper once more.
"I'll call you. I'll actually call," Alex said with a wink and let go of Piper's hand.
Piper smiled once more and went into her apartment.
"That day was unbelievably perfect," Alex said.
"I loved it so much," said Piper, kissing Alex. "You know, I would have went home with you when we passed your apartment that afternoon."
"Piper Elizabeth Chapman! What would your mother say?"
"Hmm…Go Piper? Get some?"
Alex began to laugh. "Yes, that sounds just like Carol."
"I'm glad we waited though. Until we knew each other even better. It made it, made this," Piper gestures between them, "even more amazing."
"I'm glad too. I'd never done that before. Waited. You were, are, worth it. You're perfect."
Piper couldn't stop smiling at Alex. "I think our first two official dates were pretty perfect too."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Definitely. The boat ride last week was wonderful. I love seeing the city lit up at night. It always seems so magical. And tonight was incredible. That restaurant was so beautiful. Thank you, Al. I don't know how you do it. How you can be this perfect. I don't know how anything could possibly be any better."
"Well the night's not over yet, Pipes. Let's see how much better we can make it."
This chapter was so much fun to write! I hope everyone enjoys it! I tried not to make it too sappy, but I just love it when Piper and Alex are so damn sweet with one another.
Again, a big THANK YOU to everyone who has supported this story! I appreciate everyone's kind words! The story of the beginning of their relationship is all I had planned for this fan fic, so I believe there will only be one more chapter after this one. Since I've been writing, I've not had a chance to read all of the other wonderful stories out there and I'm missing those! Everyone is so talented.
Ten points to Gryffindor if anyone spots the little line I threw out that's from The Departed. TOTALLY random, I know :)
