Hi, everyone! I'm back with a new chapter that I hope you'll enjoy. This chapter is a bit different and doesn't follow the same flashback format as the others. It's also pretty sappy - I think they're both getting a bit emotional as the wedding approaches. :)


"Do you remember when you got engaged and I asked if we had a fucking epic bachelorette party to plan? This isn't exactly what I had in mind," Nicky said.

"Hmm…That's a shame," Alex pretended to consider what her friend said. "It's almost as if this isn't your wedding and you don't have a say anyway."

"Dick."

Alex laughed. "Hey, it's not my fault you eloped all spur of the moment and didn't get to have your own bachelorette party."

Nicky and Lorna had gotten engaged just a few months after Alex and Piper, but planning the wedding was something Nicky soon realized she couldn't handle. It was all Lorna talked about and it eventually became an unwelcome third member of their relationship. Miraculously Nicky had somehow convinced Lorna to elope with her to Atlantic City…and she could not have been more thankful. They threw a party of course when they got home and that seemed to quench Lorna's thirst for a big celebratory event just fine.

"Maybe your wife would let you have a bachelorette party now," Alex teased.

"Wouldn't that be the fucking tits?" Nicky laughed. "But we both know that's not going to happen; which is why I was hoping to live vicariously through you."

"Sorry, Nick, not my style."

"I should just go to Piper's party with Lorna," Nicky huffed.

Alex shoved her friend. "Fuck off."

Over the past couple of years, Piper and Lorna had become very close friends independently of their significant others. They quite often hung out with one another, even when Alex and Nicky weren't around. As such, Lorna had situated herself in the "Piper Camp" and was therefore going to her bachelorette party.

"Fine, fine. I'll go to your party. Stop begging. But you owe me," Nicky said, only partially joking.

Alex just shook her head. "Pain in my ass…"


The wedding was still about a month away, but between Alex's out of town tournaments, a new product launch at Popi and pre-wedding family dinners, this was the last free weekend Alex and Piper had free before the nuptials.

It had been a hectic two years since the engagement. Alex's work had stayed pretty constant, but sometimes her being out of town for extended periods of time took its toll. Popi only continued to expand and often kept Piper busy after business hours and constantly on the weekends. And planning the wedding, while they agreed to keep it simple, still felt like a part time job for both of them. Regardless of how busy they were, they always tried to make their Sunday night dinner with Diane. After about eight months of chemotherapy, Diane had been in remission ever since. It was something Alex and Piper were thankful for every day.

It was the night of their respective parties when Alex walked into the en suite bathroom to check on Piper while she was getting ready.

"Wow! You look amazing, Pipes." Alex stood in the doorway just staring at the blonde.

Piper was wearing a figure hugging little black dress and had done her make-up darker than usual. She was just adding the finishing touches.

"This dress…," Alex started.

"Your favorite," Piper finished her thought.

"Mm-hmm. It's so sexy on you."

Alex stood behind Piper and ran her hands down Piper's hips before leaning in and kissing the back of her neck. Alex wrapped her arms around Piper's waist and rested her chin on Piper's shoulder. They stared at each other in the bathroom mirror for a moment as Piper put her earrings on.

"Al? Is everything ok?"

Alex sighed.

"Other people get to enjoy the view of you in that dress tonight."

Piper did her best to try to hide a small smile. Alex was so adorable and sweet when she pouted. She had definitely softened during their years together. Piper turned in Alex's arms to face her.

"That's true," Piper said. "Other people will get to enjoy the view of me in this dress tonight." She leaned in and kissed Alex. "But you know what? You get to enjoy the view of me in this dress for the rest of our lives." Piper placed a longer kiss on Alex's lips.

"You're right." Alex nodded in agreement.

Piper smiled. "I know."

Alex couldn't help but laugh at Piper and leaned in to kiss her once more.

Alex went into the bedroom and sat on the bed so Piper could finish getting ready. After a moment, Piper came out to join her.

"You guys are really just going to stay here tonight? Are you sure you don't want to go out? Nicky hasn't been able to get you to change your mind?"

"Nope, she hasn't. And you know how hard she's tried."

"Oh, I know," Piper laughed, remembering the multiple times she's seen Nicky try to convince Alex to have a proper party. "I think she's a bit jealous that Lorna's coming out with me tonight."

"She's definitely jealous," Alex said. "No question."

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

"Speak of the devil," Alex said. "Her ears must be burning."

Alex made her way down the hall and opened the door to find an excited Lorna in a bright red dress that matched her lipstick and a bored looking Nicky.

"Oh, for fuck's sake. Are you going to pout all night?" Alex teased Nicky immediately. "Hi, Lore, you look gorgeous."

"Thank you, Alex. And ignore her," Lorna said gesturing towards Nicky. "She's just being a spoil sport. She knows she's gonna have a great time tonight, she's just stubborn."

"Who's stubborn?" Piper asked as she joined the group.

"Nicky," both Alex and Lorna responded in unison.

"Isn't it time for you and Piper to go?" Nicky asked.

Lorna slapped Nicky's arm playfully. "You play nice!"

Piper walked over to the coffee table to grab her purse and keys then walked towards the front door where everyone was still standing.

"Don't forget, we're going to stay at Polly's tonight," Piper said to Alex. "I love you. Have a good time." Piper placed a soft kiss on Alex's lips.

"I love you too. You guys be safe."

Nicky and Lorna exchanged similar good-byes and the night began.

A couple of hours later, everyone's night was in full swing. After going out to dinner, Piper and her group, which, in addition to Polly and Lorna, included Cal's wife, Neri, and about six other girls Piper and Polly knew through various Popi business ventures, were bar hopping downtown.

Alex was at home with Nicky, their friends Tasha and Boo, as well as a few of Alex's poker friends, and some people Nicky worked with. The small, chill hang out that Alex had envisioned had turned into something of a house party. With the music blaring and plenty of pot, booze, and pizza to go around, even Nicky was having way more fun than she had expected…although she was still itching for a little bit more. Thankfully this time she wasn't alone in her persuasion.

"Yo, Vause! Why don't we move this party downtown? Hook up with our girls at a club?" Nicky's suggestion was met with cheers from the rest of the group.

Feeling the effects of the pot and booze, Alex was in a more agreeable mood. "Fuck it. Let's go!"

After three margaritas Piper found herself feeling pretty good and out on the crowded dance floor with what felt like the rest of the city. Everyone was dancing in a big group, jumping and swaying with the music. There was one guy in particular that Piper noticed kept eyeing her, but she did her best not to pay him any attention. She continued to dance to the music, all of her friends doing the same close by.

As the music changed, Piper noticed this same guy had gotten closer to her and was now facing her, occasionally brushing up against her. She turned away from him and continued to ignore him. That however became impossible when in an instant his lips were suddenly on hers in a sloppy wet kiss and his hands were around her waist. Even in her drunken state, Piper knew how wrong this was.

"Get off me!" She shouted at him. The music was so loud, she didn't even know if he heard her. She didn't care. She yelled at him again and shoved him away. "Get the fuck away from me! Fucking asshole!"

Piper fought her way through the crowd, off the dance floor, and into the bathroom upstairs. She locked herself in a stall and tried to calm down. She took long deep breaths, trying to keep her tears at bay.

The movement of the dancing crowd had separated Piper from the rest of the group, so Polly and Lorna had only caught a glimpse of her leaving the dance floor looking unnerved. They quickly followed her to the restroom.

"Pipe? Are you there?" Polly asked.

"Piper? Is everything okay?" Lorna added.

Piper took a steadying breath before answering.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I just needed a little break."

"You sure?" Polly asked.

"Yeah, I'm good. I'll be out in just a minute."

Polly and Lorna shared a look, but ultimately let Piper have some time to herself.

"Okay. We'll be over at our table," Lorna said.

"Okay."

Piper just stood there for a few more minutes. She felt disgusted. She thought about that guy and wished she had pushed him even harder. Or maybe even hit him. She felt her anger rising again. Alex would have hit him, she thought with a smile. Suddenly a wave of guilt washed over her. Alex, she thought again. Her mind was a mess. She took a few more minutes and tried to clear her head. I can't stay in here all night she said to herself. So, her head still spinning with emotions and alcohol, Piper left the bathroom and made her way back to her friends.

When Piper found her group, she saw her Popi friends were all at their table, but Polly was at the railing looking down onto the crowd at the floor below.

"What are you looking at?" Piper asked.

"Your fiancé came out to play after all," Polly nodded her head towards Alex and her friends. "Lorna's already ran down to meet Nicky."

Piper's face broke into a giant smile when Polly mentioned Alex. The clouds of her emotional shit storm momentarily parted. Piper scanned the crowd, trying to follow Polly's gaze, but didn't see Alex. "Where are they?"

"Just there, a few feet from the bar. Oh shit-!" Polly watched as a pair of very drunk girls barreled into Alex and Nicky. One of the girls and Nicky hit the floor, but Alex caught the other and was holding her, trying to keep them both upright.

That's when Piper finally found them in the crowd. But she didn't see the crash. All she saw was Alex holding some other girl in her arms.

"What the fuck?!"

Polly looked at Piper, realizing that she hadn't seen the whole scene play out. Polly grabbed for Piper, "Pipe! No, wait!" But Piper was already gone. The alcohol, the events of earlier, and now seeing Alex with some other woman had Piper seeing red.

Piper pushed through the crowd and made her way over to Alex who was still holding the girl up; while Lorna was making sure Nicky hadn't gotten hurt in the fall. Upon seeing Piper, Alex's face lit up into a smile, but that was short lived when she saw Piper's own facial expression.

"Real fucking great, Al," is all Piper said as she walked right past Alex and out of the club.

"Pipes! Piper! God dammit!" Alex shouted as she took off after Piper.

Alex caught up to Piper outside while she hailed a cab.

"Piper, it wasn't what it looked like."

"What a fucking cliché."

Alex took a step towards Piper and tried to grab her arm, but Piper yanked it from her grasp. Alex knew this side of Piper. She knew there's no getting through to her right now. She wasn't going to listen.

When the cab arrived, Alex gave the driver their address and handed him a $50. Piper entered the backseat, slamming the door; her anger and hurt blinding her to the outside world.

With Piper now safely on her way home, Alex knew she needed to give her some time to cool off. Alex headed back into the club and had a drink at their now combined bachelorette party – minus one bachelorette.

After about an hour, Alex left their friends and headed home to her fiancé.

Alex got home to find Piper curled up on the couch. Sweatpants and an old t-shirt replacing the black dress Alex loves so much. Alex took a seat next to Piper, her puffy eyes and red cheeks confirming that she'd been crying.

"Hey," Alex said softly.

"Hey."

Alex took Piper's hand; thankfully the blonde didn't pull away this time.

"So you wanna tell me what the hell happened back there?" Alex asked. "I haven't seen you like that in a really long time. Nothing happened, babe. That girl just-"

"I know. Polly, Lorna, and Nicky all texted me before I even got home. I know nothing happened."

"Okay. So…?" Alex ran her thumb over Piper's knuckles.

Piper took a deep breath and lifted her head to meet Alex's gaze.

"Something happened earlier tonight."

Alex was quiet and waited for Piper to continue.

"We were all drunk and everyone was dancing. And the dance floor was so crowded. And everyone was kind of dancing with everyone in a big group and this guy kept getting closer and closer to me."

Alex's jaw clenched; her mind immediately racing to the conclusion that this prick had somehow hurt Piper. She could hear her heart begin to thump in her ears, but she kept quiet and let Piper continue.

"And I kept trying to get away from him and ignore him, but then all of a sudden he was in front of me again somehow and his hands were on my waist and he was kissing me and trying to push his fucking tongue into my mouth. It made me so sick. It makes me sick just thinking about it. I pushed him away and called him an asshole. And then locked myself in a bathroom stall to calm down." Piper let out another deep breath.

Alex had the wicked urge to smile, just simply out of total relief that this guy didn't harm Piper in a more serious way. She felt her body relax at the realization that that's as far as the incident went tonight. Her heart began to slow to a normal rhythm.

Alex moved her hand to rest on Piper's cheek.

"Are you okay?"

Piper closed her eyes as another tear fell and nodded her head. "Yes, I'm okay." Piper paused for a moment. "I was just so mad and then I felt so guilty and then I saw you with that girl and I lost it. I don't know. There was just so much going on and everything just kind of boiled over. I had so many emotions running through my head; I didn't know how to process them all."

Alex regarded Piper for a moment.

"What did you have to feel guilty about?"

"That guy-"

"Is a piece of shit," Alex finished Piper's sentence.

"Yes, but maybe I should have moved further away or left the dance floor all together. And no one else's lips are supposed to be on mine except yours. I'm sorry, Alex." Piper put her head down.

"What?" Alex asked. "Is that what part of this is about? Do you feel like you cheated or something?"

"Well, no. I don't know. Kind of." Piper knew that she hadn't "cheated," but she couldn't escape the feeling that she could have done more to avoid the whole incident.

"That explains your blow up a little better. You were worried about what had just happened, so when you saw me with another person, everything got a little crazy, huh?"

Piper nodded.

"Pipes, look at me. You did nothing wrong. Nothing. You were having a great time and dancing. Nothing you did was the cause of that guy being an asshole and taking advantage of you. Did you kiss him back?"

"God no! Of course not!"

"Did you push him away as soon as you could?"

"Yes. Immediately. It was awful."

"Then that's it. You have nothing to feel guilty about. Plain and simple. Please don't blame yourself for anything or think that you did anything wrong."

They sat in silence for a few moments as Alex absentmindedly ran her fingers through Piper's hair.

Alex finally spoke.

"Your reaction to that girl."

"Al, I'm so sorry."

"I know. It's okay. But Pipes, have I ever done or said anything to make you think what you saw tonight could have been real? That I could have cheated on you?"

Piper's heart sank. If she felt sick earlier, she couldn't even describe how Alex's words made her feel now. Alex had not once ever given her reason to doubt her commitment to their relationship, to her, but here she was asking, doubting her own actions.

Piper immediately cupped Alex's face in both of her hands.

"Alex, no. No. Not for one second." Piper leaned in and pressed her lips forcefully to Alex's. "Al, you've never ever given me cause to question your love. Ever." Piper searched Alex's eyes. "Do you believe me?"

"Of course." Alex tucked Piper's hair behind her ear. "But your reaction tonight…" Alex trailed off.

Piper shook her head. "I know. It's just – aside from everything that happened earlier tonight – I have my own insecurities, you know? I know you wouldn't ever cheat on me, but there's this part of me that sometimes thinks that I'm not good enough for you or that I don't deserve you and," Piper's voice began to tremble, "one day you might realize that and move on."

Alex knotted her eyebrows and shook her head. She wanted to interject and assure Piper that would never happen, but Piper signaled her to let her finish.

"Alex, you're amazing. You're the best person I've ever met. You're so strong and you have the biggest heart. It all seems too good to be true. Sometimes I get stuck in my own head and I get fearful that I'm going to lose you."

Piper wiped fresh tears from her cheeks. This was something that was difficult to admit, but she was glad she had voiced her concern to Alex.

"I know it's crazy. My brain has a mind of its own sometimes," Piper finished with a small laugh.

Alex watched Piper. Her heart ached at the thought of how much she loved the blonde woman sitting in front of her.

"It's not so crazy. I have those thoughts too," Alex confessed.

"Really? You do?" Piper was so surprised.

"Yeah. I try not to think about them, but I have those little thoughts that creep into my head too. Everything you just said, I feel the same way."

Alex took both of Piper's hands in hers.

"You're my whole life, Piper. I sometimes worry that I'm not good enough for you. I try so hard to make you happy."

"Oh, Alex. You are. You do. I couldn't ask for anything more."

"You too, you know. You're everything I've always wanted. I would never want to jeopardize our relationship." Alex's eyes were brimming with tears now too.

"Me either. I love you. I love you so much."

Piper kissed Alex again and wrapped her arms around her.

"Pipes, you have no idea." Alex squeezed Piper tightly. "I love you."

Piper felt the warmth of Alex's embrace and smiled at the thought of knowing she would get to spend the rest of her life in Alex's arms.


As always, thank you all for reading. I have one more chapter planned for this story (in the usual flashback format), I'm just not sure when I'll get it posted. Best to you all.