After leaving Piper in the store and heading across the street, Alex had gone a little crazy with the takeout order. She knew exactly what to order for Nicky, the two of them had been best friends for years, so she rattled off the menu choices with ease – adding in a few extras of Nics favourites as a way to say thank you for the help she had given her earlier that evening. But for some reason, ordering for Piper seemed to fluster her. Normally Alex would have chosen anything, hoping that at least one dish would have been OK, but she wanted this evening for Piper to be more than OK, she wanted her to enjoy herself, to have fun.
Alex shook her head at the thought that entered her mind. For once, the confident, cocky, always assured Alex Vause was stressing over something, actually putting in extra thought and effort for someone else and worrying as whether her choices would be OK. However it was the fact it didn't feel forced that was the surprising thing about it all, quite the opposite in fact. Alex was actually happy to be pondering over whether Piper would prefer beef in black bean sauce over sweet and sour. Whether she'd want noodles more than rice. Deep down Alex hoped this wouldn't be the last time she would be ordering takeout for the two of them, closing her eyes, she shook her head at the thought of anything past this night; she was already getting too hung up on Piper Chapman. She smiled again. Was that a bad thing?
Glancing over the menu one last time before making her decisions, Alex placed her final requests to her order with the cheerful bloke behind the counter. She took a seat near the window, glancing across the street as she looked towards the store, a smile almost welded on her face as she looked for Piper behind the slightly tinted storefront glass; noticing not for the first time how giddy she seemed to feel about seeing the blonde again, checking her phone once again to make sure she still had plenty of time before Pipers shift finished.
Piper couldn't keep her eyes off the clock on the back wall, counting down those final twenty minute to the end of her shift. It seemed as if each tick of the second hand reverberated around the empty store, mocking the fact she was contained there, unable to escape into the possibilities of the night just yet. Normally Piper considered herself a patient person, but not tonight, she felt as if she had drunk several cups of espresso, her nerves were jangling throughout her body, each one of her senses more attuned to the things around her.
Piper stole a glance through the store window, just able to make out Alex stood with her back to her, looking at the large menu board in the place across the road. Even with this distance between them, Piper could not help but notice how there seemed to be a change in her as she thought about Alex, about how she had made her feel just those few moments prior. Piper felt as if there was nothing on her shoulders weighing her down, that if she stepped out into the cool night air, she would be blown skywards with the faintest touch of a breeze. Piper wondered if this is what it felt like to just be Piper, Alex knew nothing of her background, where she came from, her failings as a Chapman. Alex just knew Piper for the girl sat on the checkout at a 24/7 grocery store, and Piper was more than happy for them to start from there.
At ten to, Dylan, a youngish looking lad with a slight frame, wavy blonde hair and general laid back appearance walked in. Piper could never fully work out whether the lad was as half stoned as he looked, or whether he was just that relaxed. He raised an arm at Piper in a half hearted, wordless greeting as he headed straight to the employee locker room to change into his uniform. Piper had never been more thankful for Dylan turning up to work on time in her life. Normally he was anywhere up to a quarter of an hour late, which Piper always covered for him, so was pleasantly surprised when the 'staff only' door opened up a moment later and out walked Dylan shrugging on the uniform shirt over his long-sleeved band T-shirt.
"Hey Piper – if you wanna go, I'll cover the last few minutes of your shift, looks like you're waiting on someone?"
Piper was out of her chair and heading towards the employee room before Dylan had even made it to the till, a wide smile on her face, throwing several thank you's over her shoulder to the puzzled looking youth. She bundled her way to the back room, throwing open her locker, trying to make the most of the few minutes she had before Alex arrived to make herself look a little more respectable. Cursing at herself for her wardrobe decisions at the start of the day, she pulled on the worn looking jumper over her long sleeve top, smoothing it down, before quickly stepping out of the trousers she wore for work and into her jeans, thankful they at least looked half decent and seemed to hug her toned legs in all the right places.
Piper fussed with her hair before spotting the time, just a few more minutes and Alex would be expecting her, Chinese food in hand... 'Shit, the food!' Piper suddenly thought to herself; in the quick answer to Alex about takeout – she had never considered where the food would be eaten...would Alex be expecting to go back to Pipers, or would they be going back to Alex's... Her apartment wasn't anything special or brilliant – but from doing all the extra overtime recently, it was a bit, neglected. Piper cringed at the thought of taking anyone back there to witness the mess she currently resided with, no – she couldn't let Alex see that.
Piper shoved the clothes she had worn to work into her locker, pulled her coat on and gathered her belongings into her purse, slinging it over her shoulder as she pushed the staff room door open. As she started walking towards the front of the store, she heard a laugh that was unmistakably Alex's. Scanning the aisles, she saw the tall, dark haired woman stood at the checkout, laughing and joking with Dylan who was the most animated Piper had ever seen him. Walking up behind Alex with the intention of surprising her, Piper was startled herself when Alex turned round quickly, her green eyes instantly focusing on Pipers, her face lit up with a wide smile that made Piper's heart seem to do cartwheels.
"Sorry Dylan, looks like my dinner date has arrived – so looks like I won't get to share this delicious feast with you after all!"
Piper blushed as Alex referred to her as her 'dinner date', then smiled as she looked to see Dylan nodding slowly at her, winking and using his hand to give Alex the 'OK' behind the tall woman's back.
Alex turned back to Dylan, smiling and handing over a few notes as he rung a sale through his till, sliding a large paper bag towards Alex as she moved towards the end of the checkout. Picking up two bulging bags that were already at the end of the counter, Alex nodded to Piper, flashing her a smile and a wink that just made Piper feel dizzy again, indicating to the bag Dylan still had a hand on.
"Hey Pipes, can you grab that bag for me?"
Smiling at the use of the nickname again, Piper stepped towards Dylan, lowering her eyes as the young lad beamed at her as she picked up the heavy bag. "What the hell, Alex! What have you bought?" She peered into the bag to see a couple of six packs of beer and two bottles of alcohol she couldn't quite make out with out dropping the bag to the floor.
"Just a few more drinks - Nicky has managed to drink my apartment dry already. Come on, don't want dinner to go cold now do we? See ya Dylan – nice meeting you!" Alex had no intention of hanging around now and was calling her goodbyes to Pipers colleague as she made her way out of the sliding store doors. She was off along the street into night, making Piper hurry in order to catch up with her, hearing several 'wait up!' and 'slow down' as Piper tried to match the pace her long legs set. Alex stopped at the street crossing, looking to Piper as they waited for the lights to change, noticing how the cold seemed to be affecting Piper, making her cheeks and nose rosy.
"Don't worry kid, I don't live far – will get you warmed up in no time!"
The smirk and wink did not go unnoticed from Piper as Alex turned away, looking across the street as the signal changed and it was safe for them to walk across the busy intersection. Alex was true to her word – they hadn't walked far before Alex came to stop in front of a recently renovated apartment block, punching the button marked Vause on the intercom as she leaned against the entrance.
The intercom crackled into life, the unmistakable voice of Nicky filling the street as she answered, "Y'ello, Vausegasm Villa – where you come, in splendour…"
Piper couldn't help but snort with laughter at Nicky's interaction, especially with the exasperated look on Alex's face as she struggled to contain her own laughter at her friends warped sense of humour.
"Nicky! Shut the fuck up and buzz us in, yeah?"
"Righto Vause, I'm on it!"
Despite the heavy bag in her arms, Piper pulled the door open as it was released, letting Alex walk in before she entered the building herself, taking in the mixture of rough brick walls, exposed wrought iron metal work and smooth white walls in the lobby as she followed Alex to the elevator.
"Wow – this place really puts my apartment block to shame – you lived here long?" Piper looked to Alex as she came to stand next to the other woman, just as the doors of the elevator pinged, sliding open quietly.
Alex shook her head, pushed the button for the top floor, speaking only once the doors had closed and they began their ascent. "Couple of months if that, I used to live with Nicky – but she wanted Lorna to move in with her, so she kicked me to the kerb," Alex half laughed, casting a smile at Piper who was looking between her and the heavy bag, looking to it as she shifted the weight in her arms, "I probably see her more now than I did when I lived with her – she's always winding up Lorna, so she hides out here 'til what ever shit storm she's created blows over!"
Piper felt the elevator slow to a stop, the doors sliding open to reveal a large wooden door in front of them, which was slightly a jar, but Piper could see no lights on inside. Looking down the corridor, she couldn't see any other apartments on this floor so this had to be Alex's place.
Piper stayed in the elevator, a puzzled look on her face, Alex's honey like voice cutting through her thoughts "Don't look so worried Kid, Nicky has probably fused the lights or something, promise – nothing sinister!" Alex chuckled, stepping out of the elevator, stopping the doors from closing with her foot. Piper relaxed slightly, although still a little dubious about walking into a dark apartment. "Here – put your bag down there a second, whilst I get the door..."
Alex leaned down, placing the two bags of food on the ground, pushing the door open wide, calling out, but not walking into the apartment, instead letting Piper step tentatively into the open plan apartment space.
"Nicky! Where are you, you goddamn elf...I swear...!"
Piper was stood just inside the doorway as it happened and she couldn't help but gasp, her hand covering her mouth as her wide eyes took in the sight before her. As Alex had called out, Nicky, hidden out of sight elsewhere in the apartment, had flipped the power switch, illuminating the twenty or so strings of Christmas lights that were precariously hung up around the walls of the apartment, cascading from the ceiling as they draped down from the light fixings and trailed across the floor; bathing them all in a blinking, flashing, warm glow of colourful lights.
Pipers eyes were drawn through the centre of the room to a small, imitation Christmas tree that was balanced on top of a coffee table, covered in tinsel, ornaments thrown on it in a haphazard manner, the majority on one side, all clumped together as if the person who had decorated really didn't have the time or inclination to space them equally, as Piper recalled she used to do with her own tree when she was little.
Piper glanced back to Alex who had now moved away from the door, moving to stand behind her, an arm hesitantly reaching around, her hand eventually resting gently on Pipers waist. It felt so natural, Piper only realised she had leaned back in to Alex after she felt the hand on her waist tighten and Alex's head rest on top of her own.
"Merry Christmas, Piper" Alex whispered, lifting her head as she felt Piper turn and face her.
"This is for me?" wonder evident in her voice as Piper looked to Alex, dipping her head as she tried to catch those beautiful hues of green that were currently looking anywhere but her own. "But, Alex. Why?"
Alex looked around, blinking a few times as she forced back a few tears that threatened to spill out as she looked at the strings of lights that adorned her apartment. She spoke, quietly, addressing the apartment rather than Piper to begin with.
"My mom loved Christmas. We never had a lot as I was growing up, but my mom always made sure our tiny apartment was as bright and as colourful as possible. Each year when the shops were clearing out the stock, my mom would always buy a new string of lights so we'd have something new the following Christmas." Alex paused, Piper just waited, listening to the raw emotion she could hear in Alex's voice. "Diane reckoned you could never be sad at Christmas, especially if you had so many lights to brighten your way." Alex looked back to Piper, her eyes glistening in the dark, "When we saw you in the store earlier, you looked so sad. No one as gorgeous as you should be that sad..." Piper batted Alex lightly on her arm at the compliment, the corners of Alex's mouth turning upwards as a smile started to edge onto her lips. Leaning closer to Piper, Alex continued, her voice low, "I just did what Diane would have wanted me to do...brighten up your Christmas..."
Piper stared at Alex, wondering how on earth she had been lucky enough to have met this woman stood in front of her now, who had done all this for her without knowing a thing about her. She began to lift her hands in order to place them either side of Alex's face, her mind set on kissing Alex for all she was worth, before a shuffling noise and a loud voice to the side disturbed them.
"Oi! Vause! Don't be taking all the glory for this masterpiece yourself, you had a little help from yours truly if you've forgotten all ready?"
The two woman turned to face the voice, collapsing into one another's arms immediately, shaking with uncontrollable laughter as Nicky stood in front of them, dressed head to toe in an elf costume, complete with little rosy red cheeks.
"I have no idea what you fuckers are laughing at – this is the latest fashion at the North Pole... Have you got food – this elf hasn't eaten for weeks!"
Piper clung onto Alex as Nicky walked past her, hysterics taking over once more as she heard the jingle of tiny bells attached to the end of the shoes Nicky wore. Piper watched as she stepped out of the apartment, scooping up the two bags of food into her arms and moving the heavier bag across the threshold with her foot, nonchalantly walking back past them as if she was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, rather than a full on elf costume. It was too much for Piper, who started laughing again, her chuckles setting Alex off again, as they clung tighter to one another in an effort to control their laughter.
Eventually, Alex calmed herself enough to manage to settle her breathing, gazing to Piper to check she was OK before moving to pick up the heavy bag from the floor, shutting her apartment door and following Nicky into the kitchen area. She pulled the beers out, leaving the other bottles she had purchased from the store in the paper bag, quickly walking towards the Christmas tree and placing the bag underneath it.
Heading back to her kitchen, Alex watched Piper laughing and joking with Nicky around the island counter as they set about pulling out all the takeaway cartons from the carrier bags. Pipers laugh was carefree and light, the wide smile on her face seemed to stretch to her sparking blue eyes, making her look even more beautiful than ever, and Alex knew in that moment she'd been right to do the unusual, to go out on a limb and do something completely unlike her, and that her mom would have been proud of her.
The three women sat around the kitchen island, eating, drinking and laughing at anything and everything, trying each of the dishes Alex had picked from the menu. Piper had tried a bite from each and every one of them - apart from the dumplings, which Nicky guarded with a fierceness Piper found hilarious. As Piper attempted to spear a dumpling with a fork, her efforts for naught as Nicky stopped her with a knife, parrying the utensil as if holding a sword, Alex shuffled her stool closer to Piper, chuckling as the two play- fought over the dumplings.
"To be fair Pipes, I did pick them out just for Nic, she did help me with this crazy idea," Alex waved an arm, gesturing to the myriad of lights that were still glowing and twinkling behind them, "so I think she's earned the right to have them to herself!"
"I have to say – I think the crowning glory of the whole ensemble is the Christmas tree on the coffee table..." Piper smiled as she saw Nicky puff her chest up with pride, "I like the carefree way its been decorated..."
"Carefree? You mean, how it looks like a five-year old could have done a better job?" Alex leaned into Piper as she joked with her best friend, draping her arm over Pipers shoulder, as she ignored the glare Nicky was giving her, swiftly followed by wink as she devoured yet another dumpling. "...and stop trying to smarm your way into Nicky's good books Pipes, believe me there is no way this wild haired nuisance will give up food – especially-"
Alex stopped mid sentence, feigning mock surprise as Nicky chucked a dumpling in Pipers direction.
"Maybe if you complemented me once in a while Vause, maybe I'd be more inclined to share with ya! Blondie here reckons I'm carefree..." Nicky joked, wagging a finger at Alex, who responded to her friend's actions with a smirk and a deep rumble of laughter.
Piper grinned like a lunatic at Nicky, before stabbing the dumpling with her fork, waving it in front of Alex before taking a huge bite of it, a moan escaping her lips as she devoured the tasty morsel.
"Hey – keep that up Blondie and Vause here won't be able to contain herself much longer!"
"Fuck off Nicky, don't you have a home to go to? Surely Lorna must be expecting you back tonight, especially with all the plans you have for Christmas?"
"Uugh! Dont remind me." Nicky covered her eyes with the palm of her hands, before dragging her hands through her thick mop of hair.
With a mouthful of dumpling, Piper spoke, curious about Nicky's plans, "You've got a big family meal planned?"
"Nah, not a big fan of them – just gonna be me and my girl Lorna – and this pain in my ass, been that way for a few years now, wouldn't have it any other way." Nicky slapped Alex on the back, winding the taller woman slightly, who still smiled at Piper, before lowering her eyes back to the to the food in front of them as she took another mouthful of one of the dishes. "That's all I need for a perfect Christmas right there. Good food, good friends and some good ol' Christmas lovin'…"
Piper couldn't help but laugh at Nicky's recipe for the perfect Christmas, but the sadness in her voice was evident by the time she finished speaking, "That sounds like a great day Nicky, I'm not a big fan of family get-togethers either, the last few I've had haven't gone too well..."
"You don't have any plans for Christmas? You aren't going home?" Alex had lifted her head, looking straight at Piper, her eyes showing genuine concern for the blonde by her side.
"No – when you are such an unrivalled disappointment to the family name as I am, Christmas plans this year are pretty much me, a bottle of wine and Netflix..." Piper sighed, her eyes fixing on any of the dishes in front of her, but nowhere near Alex. It still hurt to think about her family, especially at this time of year, despite the pain and anguish they had put her through for so many years, they were still family.
Alex opened her mouth to speak, but before the words left her lips, Nicky was the other side of Piper, knocking Alex's arm from around her shoulder, draping her own in its place and pulling her into a one armed hug like they had been best friends forever,
"Well that's settled it – you're spending Christmas day with us!" Nicky grinned with a large smile that would have given the Cheshire Cat a run for its money.
"No, Nicky! I can't! Not with so little notice – all your plans...I can't!"
"You can, and you will. Lorna's already got enough food to feed the five thousand so that's not an issue, and she'll be over the moon that there's finally an even number sat round our table at Christmas," Nicky leaned closer to Piper, her voice chuckling with a rough laughter, "…its been a while since Vause here had a 'plus one' to pull her cracker with..."
Piper couldn't help but snigger at Nicky, whilst Alex leaned behind her, landing a thump on Nicky's arm as she glared a warning, "Nicky – shut, the fuck, up..."
"Oh quit it Vause – you want Blondie there as much as I do. We've seen her eat, she's got an appetite on her that is only a good thing when it comes to all the food Lorna's got planned" Nicky smiled at Piper who blushed slightly, thinking to all the food they had worked through that night, "Plus Blondie here's got much better table manners than you, in fact Vause, if you'd rather stay home I'm sure Lorna won't have an issue with it – will be nice to have some class at Christmas instead of your usual rabble..."
Alex sighed, rubbing her forehead with her fingers as if trying to ease a headache away. "Nicky, it just feels like you are forcing Piper to spend the day with us...maybe Pipes-"
"I'm not forcing anyone Vause – just highlighting the fact that we are a much better option over a sad, lonely meal for one, a bad bottle of wine and some box set on Netflix she will only regret wasting her day on…"
Alex opened her mouth to speak again, but hearing another voice, she went quiet. "You are right, it wouldn't be a bad thing you know, spending the day with you all...if you are really sure you want me. But I'll only agree to come if you are quite sure Lorna has enough food, and you both want me there...?" Pipers voice was quiet, but it had got the attention of the two women who stopped their discussion to look at her; Pipers gaze flitted between the two of them, looking to Nicky first.
"Blondie – you've been a riot tonight, considering you looked miserable as sin when I first saw you earlier...I honestly thought Vause here was out of her mind with all this idiocy she wrapped me up in, putting up Christmas lights and everything. As for Lorna, she will just love you, I know it!" Nicky pulled Piper closer to her, raising her hand to the side of her mouth as if pretending to whisper, but not actually lowering her voice, "Plus I haven't seen this giant acting this goofy in a long time. Whatever it is about you, I think we need it there on Christmas day if you ask me."
Piper noticed that Nicky's gaze had drifted towards Alex as her speech came to an end, her smile gentle and sincere as she looked towards her friend. Piper turned to look at Alex, who was now stood with her head hanging down, shaking it gently from side to side. Piper took it to mean that Alex didn't want her there, so started rambling as she stood from her seat, looking around her for her coat and purse getting ready to go, feeling that she'd over stayed her welcome all of a sudden.
"Look – its fine Alex, really, it is. I don't want to intrude...you had your plans well before you met me. Like I said, me, a bottle of wine and Netflix – its all-" Piper stalled as she felt Alex place a hand on her arm, stilling her movements, but causing her heart to race. She looked to the hand on her arm, not daring to look up to Alex for fear of what she may see when she looked into those green eyes she was already so attached to. Her actions were determined for her as Alex gently placed a finger under her chin, lifting her face so their eyes met once more.
"Nicky's right. I don't think I could imagine Christmas day without you there... "
There were no more words, just the gentle smile that formed on Alex's lips, and the warmth in her eyes that made Piper melt. There was no hesitation this time, Piper cupped Alex's face in her hands, closing the distance between the two of them as she kissed her, lightly at first, then deepening the kiss as she felt Alex respond, pulling Piper closer to her, tongues clashing as they explored each other properly for the first time. Breaking apart as their lungs screamed for air, they leaned into one another, Alex kissing Piper lightly on her forehead before wrapping the blonde in her arms, pulling her tight into her. Alex heard the noise of a photograph being taken – looking to where Nicky stood at her side with a cheesy grin on her face, mobile phone in her hand, pointing at Piper and herself.
"Well lovebirds, I'll take that as my cue to leave..." Nicky laughed as she waved her phone at Alex before turning on her heel and walking to the door of Alex's apartment.
"Delete that Nicky!" Alex called out, but not moving an inch from where she stood with Piper in her arms.
"No way! Lorna's gonna go mental seeing you all loved up with Blondie here..." She opened the door, yelling over her shoulder as she swung the door closed behind her, "See ya later Vause – you too, Piper!"
Piper pulled herself closer to Alex, smiling as she rested her head on Alex's chest, listening to her steady, soothing heartbeat, feeling strong arms wrapping round her waist as they stood in the quiet apartment, feeling for the first time in a very long time, peaceful.
Piper pulled up suddenly, shooting a puzzled look to Alex who looked equally confused as the sudden movement from the woman in her arms.
"Wait – did Nicky change out of that elf costume before she left?"
A deep chuckle emanated through Alex, "No. No she did not." The two smiled at one another at the thought of Nicky walking through the streets dressed as an elf.
"She really doesn't care, does she?"
"That's what she will have you believe – but she cares about what's important. Sometimes I forget that and she always finds a way to remind me..." Alex leaned into Piper; placing a soft kiss on her lips, before pulling the blonde back into her arms again.
They stood in their embrace before Piper sighed, mumbling into Alex's arms the words she knew had to come at some point, "Well, I guess I should be heading home too I suppose."
"You don't have to." Alex's voice broke slightly, clearing her throat as she spoke softly to Piper, "You can stay if you'd like...I mean you can have the bed, I'll sleep on the sofa, we don't have to sleep in the same room, unless you want...umm, Or you can go home too, I'll call you a cab, I just don't want you walking home out there alone... Don't think you have to stay, I mean I'd like it if you did...fuck! I'm rambling, what is with me?..."
Piper chuckled, amused to see the change in Alex from the confident woman spouting cheesy chat up lines in the store earlier, to the considerate, rambling softie in front of her. She raised her finger, pressing it to Alex's lips, stopping her from saying anything further. "Ssssssh" The smile on her face grew wider as the lips beneath her finger curved into a smile, and those green eyes darkened slightly as they looked to Pipers.
"I'd like that…to stay. Very much"
Alex hummed at Pipers response, pulling the blonde back towards her, laying kisses down her neck to her collarbone, whispering as Piper giggled as the light touches to her skin tickled her, "Whatever it is about you Piper Chapman – I'm most definitely smitten".
A/N: Yeah – so I am clearly an over the top, daft romantic at heart… Thank you to the lovely reviews from those of you who have been enjoying this Vauseman mush fest, I could potentially leave it here (it's not intended to be a massive multi-parter) the idea for this fic was for Alex to do something nice for Piper, make her smile – which was the Christmas lights, but now I've whacked in an invite to the meal on Christmas day too in to the mix…. – so would you like to see the Christmas day meal?
Big hugs of the highest degree for WB79, JenSurname, Chelle234 and JessTerr for your PMs over the past few days – you guys are just awesome :)