A/N: Sorry for the wait! This chapter came kicking and screaming, Orphan Black has taken over my life! I just made a tumblr so if you'd like to message me there for anything feel free! It's delphineduncan. I've had this written out for a while, I just couldn't write more! )~:

They sat side by side, Piper had made no real attempt to reach for her wife's hand, not wanting to take any attention away from Alex's mom.

"Hey, baby girl," the older Vause said quietly before looking at the hand that had been taken hostage by Alex's nervous digits. A smile grew across her pale lips and Piper was hit by just how much Alex looked like her mom.

"Mama." While waiting for her mom to wake, Alex had changed the position of her glasses no less than twenty times. Piper had never caught on whether it was a nervous habit or if it was her way of looking tough, it was just another mystery of Alex Vause. "How are you feeling?" There'd been a shift in her expression within the few seconds it took for Diane to fully come out of her sleepy state, her once defeated look had hardened into one Piper couldn't quite put her finger on. She looked brave.

"I'm hot," she turned her head so she could look at the ceiling. "I'm hot and achy and just want to leave." She rolled her head to look at Alex again. "But I can't just get up and mosey on the fuck outta here, can I?" She was replied to with a gentle laugh from Alex and Piper. Gentle. Everything was so gentle. Gentle circles rubbed into Diane's hand with one of Alex's thumbs. Gentle smiles, gentle voices, hell, gentle eyes. It was as if they were saying goodbye with just… looks. As if they both knew the inevitable was holding onto the older brunette's hand, whispering coaxing words. Suddenly she was being addressed and her head snapped up immediately.

"Jesus, Pipes. You're looking paler than these fucking walls," One of Alex's hands had let go of her mother's and was brushing a strand of hair behind Piper's ears. "Are you feeling alright, kid? I don't want you to end up being in the same position as my mom." Alex maneuvered Piper's head until her blonde head was resting on the brunette's shoulder.

"I'm fine." It was a short answer. Unlike Piper's other short answers though, it had no venomous tone behind it. Just a tired one. They'd waited for quite some time for Alex's mom to wake up, some sort of medication the hospital had put her on was taking quite a toll on her. In fact, the older Vause's eyes were already drooping.

"I'm glad you're here, Piper," Diane nearly whispered. "My daughter would be fucking lost without you, you know that?" Piper smiled before nodding against Alex's shoulder.

"I know, when she's sent on those trips to other countries I'm always worrying she's going to forget how to sit down or eat or breathe." This earned a smile from Diane.

"My poor baby," a weak hand reached out to gently brush Alex's hair behind her ear. Despite the current state of the woman, Alex swatted at her mother's hand. "Always forgetting how to breathe."

"No, Mom. You're not hearing me." The tall brunette was pacing the small room, running a hand through her already mussed hair. "I really like her."

"I hear you perfectly, sweetheart. You really like the girl and she's got some sorta boyfriend or something." The older woman was sitting in one of the wooden chairs crowded around a table much too small for the amount of women gathered around it.

"Soccer's got a goalie honey, but that don't mean you can't score," a woman with obviously dyed blonde hair smacked out around her excessive amount of gum.

Suddenly, Alex stopped her pacing and sighed. She dragged her fingers out of her hair and down her face, irritation radiating off of her. "Thank you, Aunt Lacey," she uttered, turning around to face the only woman among the group of relatives not smoking. "Thank you for that… beautiful proverb. Though I fail to see how I'll ever apply it to real life. You know, seeing as how my love life isn't a game of fucking soccer… and no, she doesn't have a boyfriend. She has a fiancé. She gushed about him until like three fucking a.m. last night." When she received questioning looks from the whole group, she sighed. "I love her, alright? Of course I'm going to let her gush over the phone to me for hours upon hours."

"Sure it is." Another woman spoke up. Alex shot her a threatening look, daring her to continue. Of course, if you knew how to shut your mouth, you weren't allowed around Vause women. "See, this is how I see it, alright? There's two teams, right? You and Mr. McDreamy. But he's just the goalie and his team fucking sucks, full of yuppies and shit, you following."

"Hey, Marsha. Watch your fuckin' mouth, alright? My daughter is a certified yuppie thanks to my sister." Diane slapped Alex's Aunt Ophelia's back affectionately, nearly making her drop her cigarette.

An embarrassed smile was returned and Alex quickly yelled back. "I'm not a yuppie, Mom."

"Ain't got even a little bit of yuppie in ya?" A younger woman around Alex's age asked.

"No, I don't Nicky. I could though, if that's what it took. I could wear stupid sweaters and headbands and go out to walk with the girls or whatever Piper does. I mean, if that's what I need to do."

"– Then you like just fucking go for it, right? Like there's risks and all, you're team will be fucked up for a while, you know? This is a huge loss for you. But no matter what the loss, you don't just stop, you know? Like… it might take months to get over your loss, but you move onto other games."

"You're still talking?" Nicky furrowed her brows at the blonde. "Tricia, that makes no fucking sense. Do I have to tell Ma that you're smoking dope again?"

"No, no. She actually has a point." Alex crossed her arms, and stared at the table drowning in women. "A horribly explained point, but it is in there within the massive amount of absolute bullshit."

"Really?" Nicky looked at the older Vause. "Is your daughter on drugs too now?"

"I hope not, I take pride in those teeth."

Piper was driving them back home, one hand on the steering wheel and the other gripping Alex's. "She looks good." Piper said, rubbing Alex's thumb with her own. "That infection definitely looks like it's going to pass soon." She turned her head to smile at Alex.

"Holy shit. You went to medical school along with Smith? Jesus, Pipes. What other secrets are you hiding from me?" Her words were laced with irritation and Piper didn't blame her. If her mother were in the same position… if her dad… if… Polly? If Polly were in the same position she'd be… pretty upset. So she didn't hold Alex's attitude against her.

"I'm not really Piper, I never have been. My name is Clarice Starling and after a particularly intimate experience with a serial killer slash cannibal, I was put into a relocation program. I hope this doesn't change our relationship." Piper raised an eyebrow, parking the car.

"Oh my fucking god, you're such a dork." Alex unbuckled her seatbelt before leaning over to press a kiss to the corner of Piper's lips. "Let's go drink, yeah?"