'Chivalrous' Piper whispered to herself, a smile drifting absentmindedly across her face as she lay amongst the plump pillows and warm duvet cover of Alex's bed, staring at the ceiling.
She had been awake for about half an hour, and prior to her current train of thought, she had recalled everything about the previous evening that had made her smile, and there had been a lot of reasons for her to smile. From the goofy way Alex had asked her all those chat up lines, to meeting her after work, all those Christmas lights… Each new thought had made Piper smile, closing her eyes, she tried to recreate what she had felt in each moment, always coming back to the same; happy, cared for, wanted.
Now Piper was listing all the qualities of Alex that she'd seen in the little time she had known the woman, trying to pinpoint exactly what it was about the tall brunette made her stomach somersault every time she thought of her.
For all of Alex's flirting – she had actually been very considerate towards Piper after she had agreed to stay, offering to sleep on the sofa so Piper could take her bed, making sure she had everything she needed from a T-shirt and shorts to sleep in, water at the side of her bed, to a toothbrush in the bathroom.
"So are you sure you don't need anything else Pipes? Just let me know and I'll sort it..." Alex was stood in the doorway to the bedroom, about to head to the sofa, spare pillow and blanket tucked under her arm.
"You really don't have to sleep out there Alex, it should be me on the sofa, this is your home after all, you should be in your own bed."
"Well, currently, my bed is occupied by a rather gorgeous blonde, and since my guest bedroom is still full of boxes I need to unpack, out here is where I'm heading. It's fine Piper, really." Alex threw her thumb over her shoulder, indicating where she intended to end up, casting a smile towards Piper as she hugged the pillow and blanket tighter to her chest, resisting the urge to drop them and rush over to the bed to slide in under the duvet with Piper.
The two women looked to one another for a moment before Piper broke the comfortable silence that fell between them, "You don't have to you know."
"Don't have to, what, Piper?"
"Sleep on the sofa. This bed is massive, there is plenty of room for the two of us..."
Alex sighed, slowly dropping the items under her arms to the floor before walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at her hands, rather than the blonde she now sat beside. "Piper, there is nothing I want more in this moment than to share this bed with you...but if I do..." Alex turned to face Piper, resting a hand lightly on her cheek, looking deep into her blue eyes, before exhaling slowly, "...I don't want to rush into anything with you Piper...I don't want to regret anything…I don't want you to regret anything…"
Piper nodded, wordlessly accepting that Alex was set on sleeping on the sofa, but also amazed at the woman's words; that Alex also seemed to feel this connection between the two of them, knew it was different than anything they had known before. Piper thought it had just been her, that the thrill of having someone interested in her, for her alone, was skewing her thoughts, but Alex's words now seemed to suggest she wasn't alone in her feelings.
Before Piper could say anything, Alex stood, placing a kiss on Pipers forehead; a light kiss, gentle and caring and moved back to the doorway, picking up her pillow and blanket from the floor as she went. As she left the room, Alex looked back one last time as she closed the door behind her, "Sleep well Pipes, see you in the morning."
"Goodnight Alex…" Piper heard the click of the door as it shut, listening to the sounds of Alex shuffling round the apartment, settling on to the sofa for the night before it all went quiet.
Piper had stared at the ceiling whilst Alex's words had sunk in. 'Gorgeous', and 'nothing I want more' floated round in her mind as she slowly drifted off to sleep, wrapped in the cosy duvet, wondering what it would have felt like to fall asleep in the arms of the brunette who had crashed into her life that evening.
When she woke in the morning, it felt like she had slept with a smile on her face all night long.
So here Piper was, making a list of adjectives she could apply to Alex. She had already run up more than she could count on her fingers and then some, her favourites including gorgeous, funny, smart, honest, and goofy. She pondered 'chivalrous' – nodding as she thought Alex's actions last night were more than proof that this particular attribute needed to be added to her list. As she began to wonder whether Alex was awake, as if on cue, a loud clanging noise emanated from the kitchen area, followed by a few loud curse words, and then hushed mumbling.
Curious to find out what Alex was up to, Piper extracted herself from the bed, gasping as her bare feet hit the cool flooring. Piper ran her fingers through her hair, attempting to make herself look vaguely presentable, before walking to the bedroom door. Still feeling the chill in the air, she looked around Alex's bedroom for something she could wear to warm her. She spotted a hooded sweatshirt thrown over the back of a chair, quickly deciding that Alex wouldn't mind her wearing it, since she had already loaned her the clothes to sleep in, she slipped it on, breathing in the lingering scent that was pure Alex, and then opened the door.
Piper padded down the short hallway towards the kitchen, chuckling quietly to herself as she came across the cause of all the noise. Alex was stood in front of the stove tending to something in a pan before her, her back to the kitchen island where Piper now stood; various jars, bowls and utensils spread over the counter top, what seemed to be a thin layer of flour dusting most of the surfaces.
Alex waved a spatula around in her hand as she hummed to herself, swaying slightly to the low music drifting over the speakers to the side of her, the words of the song not clear to Piper, although the tune seemed familiar.
Piper decided to not make herself known just yet – giving herself the opportunity to watch Alex, taking in the natural beauty of the woman as she moved around her space, oblivious to the hungry blue eyes that followed her every move.
Her long, dark hair fell softly over her shoulders, a little messy from where she must have slept on it, and not quite caught it as she ran her hand though her hair.
She wore what seemed to be an old grey t-shirt, which Piper guessed may have been black at some point, now washed too many times and now faded, the hem coming undone slightly at the back.
The sleeves of the t-shirt were rolled ever so slightly, allowing Piper to see the edge of a tattoo on her upper arm, as well as the tribal band on her right arm.
Unlike Piper, Alex was wearing grey sweatpants, not shorts, which still managed to show off her long legs impeccably well, her bare feet were tapping on the floor as she continued to hum along with the song.
Piper watched as Alex placed the spatula down on the work surface, moving to reach up into a cupboard, pulling out two plates. The woman turned around quickly with her eyes cast down wards, catching Piper stood behind the island at the last moment as she moved to place the plates on the surface now in front of her.
"Shit! Piper! You scared the living crap out of me! How long have you been stood there?" The plates came crashing down on to the worktop, shaking Piper from her reverie, her arms shooting forward to prevent the dishes from shooting off the smooth surface.
Piper looked up – expecting to see Alex to be staring at her angrily, instead she was greeted with green eyes behind secretary glasses that seemed to sparkle as Alex broke out into a deep, rasping laugh, a wide smile forming as she continued to chuckle at Piper.
That smile, Piper thought to herself as she watched Alex creasing up with laughter. There was no need for the morning sun as it lit up the entire room, her laughter infectious as Piper too started to laugh.
"Long enough to know I like what I see..." Piper dropped her eyes as she spoke, rearranging the plates in front of her to give her something else to focus on, suddenly feeling very conscious of Alex looking directly at her, the air still dancing with Alex's laughter as she moved round the island to stand closer to Piper.
"…And already nicking my clothes I see – that's my favourite sweatshirt you know…I hope I haven't lost it forever…." Alex pulled on the hem of the top, making Piper take a step towards her, as she lightly placed her hands on Pipers waist, she leaned in, placing a quick kiss on Pipers cheek, before standing straight, a smirk on her face, one eyebrow slightly raised then turned away, walking back in the direction of the stove.
As Alex neared the bombsite of her kitchen, she called out not turning around, "Hope you're hungry – I made pancakes!" Alex now glanced back over her shoulder, beaming a proud smile at Piper, almost like a kid who has managed to tie their shoelaces on their own for the first time.
"You've certainly made something…" Piper chuckled as she now moved into the kitchen space, dragging a finger across the nearest surface, leaving a track in the light layer of flour dust that had settled on it, before noticing the piles of bowls and jugs in the sink, evidence of a few failed attempts at pancake batter mixing.
Alex caught Piper looking around the space, "Hey! Not my fault I've never listened to my mom before about how she makes pancakes…There were a few attempts until I got it right…"
"Before? Al, do you mean you've phoned your mom this morning how to make pancakes? You do know there's such a thing as the Internet? Google even? You really should try it - it's a mine of information such as "how to make pancakes…" Piper joked with Alex as she stood beside her, nudging into her as she spoke, noticing the smile on the taller woman's face as their body's touched.
"Tsk, I know that! I didn't want you to have just any old pancakes… I wanted to make it special…" Alex cleared her throat, looking away quickly for a moment then turning back to Piper, "…it is Christmas Eve after all."
With that, Alex carefully placed two thick, fluffy pancakes onto the plate in front of piper, before repeating the action onto the second plate a moment later. She picked up her plate, nodding for Piper to do the same before walking away from the destruction that was her kitchen and into her apartment.
Following, Piper saw a table set up by a large window, neatly laid out for two with juice, coffee, a large bowl of fruit and a large jug of what appeared to be maple syrup.
As the aromas of freshly made coffee and pancakes wafted around Piper, she suddenly realised how hungry she was, and quickly sat down at the table, before going about loading her plate with fruit from the bowl, covering her pancakes with a good helping of syrup and gulping down the freshly brewed coffee. Piper missed the way Alex smiled at her, watching the blonde in front of her dig into the mound of food that adorned her plate. Picking up the jug, Alex poured the remaining syrup over her pancakes, swamping them in the sticky liquid, before starting to devour them.
"Are you not having any fruit Alex?" Piper laughed as Alex shook the jug before sticking her fork in to draw out the last drop of syrup.
"Nope – not really one for the healthy stuff at breakfast, Nicky moans if I don't at least try," Alex pointed her fork towards the bowl of fresh fruit, "…but I thought you might like it so, you know…."
Piper smiled at Alex's thoughtfulness, as she took another bite of the fluffy pancake, a quiet moan escaping her lips, earning her a flash of a smile and a raised eyebrow from Alex.
"Well, if that's the response I get – I'm making pancakes for you more often!" Alex chuckled, before taking a large mouthful of her pancakes, syrup running off and dribbling down her chin, which caused Piper to laugh, shaking her head at Alex's eating habits. The two continued eating, not saying much more as they both enjoyed the food in front of them.
As Piper began to feel full, she leaned back in her chair, bringing her mug of coffee up to her face, feeling the heat seeping through the sides, warming her hands, breathing in the warming aromas. As she watched Alex use the last piece of pancake to mop up the remaining syrup on her plate, she smiled at just how relaxed Alex looked, almost is if this was how the two of them woke up like this every morning.
"So…is this how you treat all your guests?" Piper asked, a nod of her head towards the table, still surprised at how much effort Alex had put into breakfast for the two of them, yet seemed to be passing it off as if it were nothing.
Alex hummed, almost as if trying to decide how to respond to Pipers question, "Well, umm, generally my guests don't generally stick around long enough to get breakfast…" Alex replied, her eyes fixed firmly on her plate as she used her finger to wipe up the remaining syrup.
"Oh…" Piper shifted in her seat, suddenly feeling as if she had crossed a line, asking about Alex's personal life.
Sensing Piper shift in her seat, Alex looked up, staring at Piper, "I've never done this before, for anyone…I meant what I said last night, I don't know what it is… you're special Pipes." Alex trailed off, glancing first down at her plate before turning away from Piper, gazing out of the window.
Piper studied her for a moment, watching, as her eyebrows seemed to furrow ever so slightly, like she was trying to work something out, trying to understand a problem, or a thought that puzzled her.
"Thank you"
Piper's voice was barely a whisper, yet it drew Alex's emerald eyes away from the city horizon she was staring out onto. "For what?"
"For this, for last night, for the lights. Letting me stay, making me breakfast. All of it, Alex. No one has ever done anything like this for me Al, never."
Alex lay her arm on the table, extending her open hand towards the blonde. Without a second thought Piper slipped her own hand into the one that lay open, fingers intertwining instinctively, both smiling as Alex's thumb began moving slowly, drawing lazy circles on Pipers skin.
They sat, holding hands, staring at one another for a moment, no words spoken, but both understanding what the other was trying to say.
Just like the night before, Piper broke the comfortable silence between the two of them. "You know, these really are good pancakes, can I make a phone call…I guess I should thank your mom…hey!" Piper laughed as Alex threw a piece of strawberry at her, missing her by miles, the piece of fruit instead landing on top of her half eaten pancake.
"Do you see my mom in the kitchen? It's me you should be thanking…"
"Well, however can I repay you?"
Alex looked directly at Piper, a smirk on her face, one eyebrow arching upwards, watching with glee as the blonde opposite began to blush as she spoke, "Well, I can think of a few ways right off the bat…" Alex leaned forward, noticing Piper mirrored her action, her blue eyes not quite meeting her gaze as she lowered her voice to a whisper, "it might involve you getting a little…wet…" She smiled as she saw Piper bite her bottom lip, her eyes now flitting between her own green eyes and her lips as she continued to speak, "but it's ok, I've got gloves you can wear…" Alex paused for effect, watching a small look of confusion flicker over Pipers face, "...wouldn't want these soft hands to wrinkle as you do all the dishes…!"
Alex waited, watching as Piper realised what she was actually talking about sink in, ducking quickly to the side as Piper now took her turn in launching a large piece of watermelon at her. As she broke into loud laughter, she could see Piper cross her arms as if annoyed, but there was a trace of a smile on her face. Not wanting to push her any further, Alex stood, moving to stand behind Piper, leaning down so her head was almost nuzzled into her neck, wrapping her long slender arms around the shoulders of the blonde, pulling her into her, feeling Piper relax into her as she did so.
"I was joking Pipes, you're the guest, relax! I made the mess, I'll clean it up!"
"I should think so! You really did make a mess."
"Yeah, I did" smiling a broad, beaming smile, almost like she was proud of the utter havoc she had caused in the kitchen.
"It was worth it though" Piper said, smiling as she leaned further back, inhaling slowly as she noticed the faint smell of coconut on Alex's hair.
Alex coughed, clearing her throat before she spoke to Piper, hoping that the nervous energy that was running through her body in that moment didn't come across in her voice, "Hey, I was thinking, why don't you hang out here with me today? We can chill out, watch some Christmas films, really get into the old Christmas spirit in time for Nicky's meal tomorrow?"
Piper sighed, pulling away from Alex, turning to look at her with a sad smile on her lips. "I can't Alex."
Alex pulled back, instinctively folding her arms across her body, "I can't to the hanging out, or I can't to the meal tomorrow?"
"The meal isn't a problem, plus I think if I said no to Nicky, she'd track me down and drag me there... it's just I can't hang out with you today-"
Alex shifted away from Piper, slumping back into her chair, arms still folded, not trying to hide how dejected she felt "It's ok Piper, I just thought…
Piper smiled at the woman opposite, noticing the puzzled look flit over her face before she spoke, "Alex, I can't hang out with you today as I've got a shift at the store, noon til eight…" Piper felt her heart flip as the previously sad face of Alex lit up at her words, green eyes sparkling as she waited for Piper to finish her sentence. "…but if you are free this evening?"
In an instance, Alex's body language had changed, the arms were uncrossed, she leaned forwards, taking both of Pipers hands in her own as she rambled with excitement, "That's settled then, you can head home, grab anything you need before you start work and I'll come meet you again when your shift ends. I'll cook us dinner, we can watch Christmas films all evening...then we can share Christmas morning together…' Alex look directly at Piper, a sudden thought flashing across her mind, "Please tell me you are not working Christmas Day?"
Piper smiled at the enthusiasm of Alex, of how quickly she had planned their time out, how easy it all seemed. Pipers voice was soft as she spoke, her eyes fixed on the woman opposite who was leaning in expectantly as she waited to her Pipers answer, "I'm not working Christmas Day…"
"Amazing! So it's set?"
"You sure about this Al, you want me here another night?"
"I can't think of a better way to spend Christmas Eve Piper..."
"Ok. But, only on one condition. You get to sleep in your own bed; you shouldn't be waking up Christmas morning on the sofa."
"Piper…"
I'm serious Alex, that's the deal. We everything you mentioned, I stay – but you? You, sleep in your own bed."
"Fine. But all the other stuff - you're ok with that? Dinner, hanging out...staying here again, with me?
"It's more than OK, Alex…"
Piper stood up, moving towards Alex, pausing as she stood next to her, before leaning down, taking the brunettes face between her hands, kissing her full on the lips.
"I could get used to that for breakfast" Alex said with a smile as they broke the kiss, earning her a swat on the arm from Piper, which she playfully rubbed at, pretending to be injured.
There was something about Piper she couldn't work out, but couldn't wait to spend more time with her, and began planning the rest of the day, smiling as she watched Piper head towards the kitchen and make a start on the dishes, chuckling at how easily the blonde had worked her way into her life already.
After breakfast and spending a good half hour helping Alex return the kitchen to a relatively normal, clean state, Piper had showered quickly before leaving Alex to head back to her own apartment. Of course Alex had been reluctant to let her go, offering to come with her and bring back her things so she wouldn't have to take a bag into work. Piper convinced her that she would be fine, and she would see her later that night at eight o'clock.
Piper could have walked, but flagged a taxi so she would have a little more time to sort out things back at her apartment. After sorting out a change of clothes for after her shift, something to wear for Nicky's Christmas meal, Piper threw a few more items into her bag before a thought crossed her mind.
Opening up the small cupboard in her hallway, she pulled out a large cardboard box, containing samples of the PoPi soaps and bath lotions they planned to launch in the New Year. Working quickly, Piper rummaged in the box, selecting particular items, placing them to the side as she continued her search for the soaps she wanted.
After finding all the items she was after, she pulled another box towards her, this one containing pre-printed paper bags with the PoPi logo on, tissue paper and ribbons. Piper made quick work of making her selections up into gift bags, returning the samples and packaging into the bottom of the cupboard.
As she shoved the last box in, she noticed a long thin box tucked away at the back, propped up against another box that hadn't been touched since last year. Realising what it was, she smiled to herself, before pulling it out, dusting it off and placing it in her bag with the made up PoPi gift bags.
Piper had enough time to grab a bite to eat before she headed out to the store for her shift, despite the weight of the bag she carried, it didn't bother her, as for once in a very long time, Piper was actually looking forward to Christmas.
The first few hours of her shift had gone quickly, the store had been busy and generally the shoppers were in good spirits as they got the last few things they needed for their Christmas day plans. Any other year, Piper would have forced a smile as she dealt with all the frivolity – but this year, thanks to Alex, she was positively beaming about the following day.
It wasn't that she expected presents, or a huge meal, far from it. For once, she was spending the day with people who just wanted to enjoy the day, no pretence, just sharing the day with friends and loved ones. For once, there were people who wanted to spend the day with Piper. Not Piper Chapman.
At two o'clock her boss took her off the checkout in order to re-stock the shelves. Grabbing a box, she rested it on her hip, balancing it as she placed its contents on the shelf in front her. As if from no where, she felt someone standing close behind her, as she drew in a breath, the familiar scent washed over her, making her heart beat faster. Piper was smiling even before she turned around, recognising the low, rasping voice as its owner leaned into her, warm breath tickling her ear,
"Excuse me, but I was wondering if you would mind… assisting me with a problem…"
Piper spun around to face the woman who stood behind her, "Alex? What are you doing here? My shift doesn't finish for another six hours!"
"I know that, it's just I have someone coming for dinner later and I could use some help as to what she may like... Knowing the excellent level of customer service offered at this store, I was hoping you might be able to, you know, assist..."
Alex stepped to the side of Piper, leaning one shoulder against the shelves and shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket, a smirk on her face, one eyebrow raised in what Piper now recognised as Alex's 'trademark' look.
Shifting the box on her hip, Piper turned back to the shelf, slowly placing the jars in front of her as she spoke to Alex, deciding to play along with her game.
"I'm sure I can be of assistance, but I need a little more information..." Piper noticed the smile appearing on Alex's face, the woman happy that Piper was playing along with her game, so continued, "Such as do you plan to cook from scratch, or would a ready made meal be sufficient? "
"Oh definitely cooking myself, I'm quite skilled in the kitchen I'll have you know..." Alex chuckled, knowing Piper would get the joke after the mess she had made making pancakes this morning, then leaned forward slightly, her voice a loud whisper, "Plus I'm trying to make a good impression..."
Piper smiled to herself before carrying on, "Well, master chef or not, maybe best not to be a show off, certainly not on the first date, if that's of course what it is…a first date…" Piper blushed a little, realising what she had implied, hurrying to move on, "So perhaps keep it simple – a tasty meal you know she'd like, something she would appreciate."
Alex moved slightly, so she was now more in Pipers eye line, watching the blonde as she slowly, purposefully, placed each jar from the box onto the shelf, the slight curl at the edge of her mouth giving her away as to how much she was enjoying playing along with the game between the two of them.
"See, that's just it...I've seen this woman practically devour a Chinese takeaway – but I don't honestly know what to cook for her. What would seal the deal so to speak for a second date...".
Piper looked up, half closing her eyes, pretending to think, before glancing at Alex. "Well, if it were me, and of course, this is merely my humble opinion as a store clerk trying to assist you with your purchases..." She looked back to Alex whose emerald eyes were fixed on her, watching her every move as she spoke. Piper paused, noticing raised eyebrows, which indicated for her to continue, "… you can't really go wrong with a good pasta dish. Or steak. Or maybe a chicken dish...all would be fine by me."
"Interesting options, you propose and all easily achievable with my excellent culinary skills. See I'd be tempted by a good steak myself, but then wouldn't the meal be all about me, and it should most definitely, be about her. Don't you think?"
Piper found that Alex had moved slowly towards her as she spoke, minimising the distance between them. Piper looked straight at Alex as she spoke, barely managing to contain herself as she kept her voice level, continuing the game between them. "But you are missing the bigger picture, it's not just about the main course – you can't just jump straight in there if you are trying to impress-"
For a brief moment, a puzzled look flitted over Alex's face, leaning back slightly; she questioned Piper, "No? Then tell me what I should do…"
Piper dropped the now empty box to the floor, and turned to face Alex. Taking a strand of dark hair between her fingers, she played with it, twisting it round her fingers, not making eye contact with Alex, "You have to lead up to it, reel her in with a tempting starter, make her want more with the main course, then, end on a high with a dessert…" Piper now looked up to Alex, directly into those green eyes that focused on her so intently, leaning forward slightly she whispered into Alex's ear, "...that will have her moaning with desire…"
"Shit. We're are still talking about food here?"
"Mmm-hmm"
"Well. Seems like I've got myself into more than I bargained for doesn't it?"
"You have no idea…"
Just as Alex leaned in towards Piper, her lips barely brushing with Pipers, she caught a movement out the corner of her eye. Pulling away quickly, she spotted the manager of the store appearing from round the corner, carrying a large stack of boxes, which thankfully had obscured his view of the two of them. As he stopped alongside Piper, dropping the boxes to the floor, before wiping his sweaty brow with the back of his hand. He was looking more distracted than annoyed, clearly having missed the moment between the two woman in front of him, one looking more shocked than the other at the appearance of this man beside them.
"Piper – can you sort these for me?" Catching Alex stepping away from his employee, he paused, looking between the two women, "unless, of course you are with a customer?"
Alex chuckled as she backed away from Piper, walking backwards so she could keep her eyes on the blonde woman speaking directly to her, "No, it's OK, thank you for all your help, Piper." Alex broke her gaze, settling her green eyes on Pipers boss, "The customer service here is top notch, such a personal service, I'll definitely be back!"
Piper smiled at her boss, bending down quickly to look at the boxes, hoping that she had done enough to hide her blushing cheeks.
Alex came back at least four more times, and they were the times Piper caught her in the store. Each time Piper spotted her, Alex was sporting a wicked grin, like she was playing a game of hide and seek with the blonde, except she wanted to be caught, wanted Piper to see her.
Unlike the first time she had been in the store however, Alex never approached her again; instead she always seemed to be lurking just at the end of an aisle. If Piper made the move toward her, Alex would throw her that trademark smirk, chuckle and walk away, always casting a look over her shoulder, always making Piper smile with her actions.
Even when Piper spotted her just as she was about to walk away from the checkout, there was that smile, that wink; that pure confident attitude that drew Piper to her like a moth to a flame and Piper knew she was done for. Alex could boil her an egg and Piper would think it was the best meal she'd ever been cooked. There was just something about Alex that drew Piper to her, a buzz of something between the two of them that made Piper aware of everything and nothing at the same time when she was around the raven-haired woman.
After Alex had walked out, two more bulging paper bags under each arm, Piper had approached Daya, the young girl sat on the checkout Alex had just been through and attempted to get her to tell her what Alex had bought. Daya looked up from the sketch she was working on in between customers, smiled and handed her a note, looking back down to her artwork as she spoke, "That lady reckoned you'd ask me somethin' –asked me to give you that if you did."
Piper turned away, shielding the note from Daya, as if Alex's words would leap off the paper away from her, whispering the words to herself as she read them,
"It wouldn't be a surprise if you found out what I had in store for you, now would it?
Now look up.
AV'
Puzzled at the last part, Piper looked up, her eyes instantly connecting with those bright greens as if her heart had instructed her own eyes exactly where to look. There, on the other side of the stores glass fronted window was Alex. Paper bags under each arm, wide smile and a knowing look on her face. She'd worked out exactly what Piper would do, and had planned for it. Piper placed her hand with the note in over her heart, using her other hand to point at Alex, nodding with a grin on her face as if to say "you caught me".
Alex laughed, winked at Piper, and then walked away, shifting the heavy bags under her arms with ease as she moved. As Piper watched her walk away, she folded the note placing in in the top pocket of her work shirt, hummed to herself and walked back to the pile of boxes she was working through, glancing at the large clock on the wall as she did so.
Two hours to go.
To say she was nervous would have been an understatement, which was throwing Alex off completely. She was never nervous. Cool, calm, collected, yes. Confident, cocky and sassy, hell yes! But nervous? This was new to Alex and she couldn't quite decide whether it was a good thing or her mind telling her to get her shit together. Aiming somewhere down the middle, Alex shook her head, trying to level her nerves and make a decision as what to do first.
Piper had just left to go back to her apartment so Alex had several hours to plan the perfect evening for them. The two of them had tidied the mess she had made in the kitchen making pancakes, so Alex set about sorting the rest of her apartment out. She was generally tidy, so she dealt with the mass of Christmas lights, securing the wires that had fallen off their precarious resting places, and levelling out the lopsided decorations on the little Christmas tree, moving it off the coffee table, to somewhere less obtrusive.
Once happy with her surroundings, she thought about the meal she wanted to cook for Piper, the nerves jangling to the surface again when she realised she didn't have a clue what Piper would like. Just like the idea for the Christmas lights the night before, the latest idea surfaced quickly and made her smile.
She'd get to work out what Piper would like, and get to see her again before their planned meeting this evening. In Alex's eyes, that was a win-win situation in any book.
In total, Alex made seven trips to the store, each one of them worth it for the time she had got to see Piper. Apart from the first trip into the store, Piper had been unaware for the most part that Alex was in the store. She'd watched Piper interacting with customers, watching her help pack the bags for an elderly couple, not rushing them despite the large queue, watched her stack shelves as she hummed, or sang to herself. Watched as she laughed as group of kids ran down the aisle wearing elf costumes. This was the Piper that had been hidden under that sad façade the other night.
This was the Piper Alex could feel herself falling for.
Closing her refrigerator door, Alex hummed in approval at her handiwork that lay inside; sure that Piper would enjoy everything that she had prepared. Her hand lingered on the closed door, her head shaking as she realised what she was doing. It had been a long time since Alex had acted this way for anyone. Up until recently, it had been an endless line of women warming her bed, but gone by the morning. Even when she had still been with Sylvie, she had never done anything like last night, never shared a part of her past so openly and without reservation. Never wanted to so badly make another person smile for no reason other than to see that person happy, no ulterior motive, nothing in it for her, other than the joy of someone else. With any other person, this would have sent her running, but with Piper?
Alex shook her head again, and turned to look round the apartment, appraising everything. Happy all was how it should be, she walked to the bathroom, stripping her clothes and dropping them to the floor as she padded towards the shower cubicle. As the warm water washed over her, Alex thought how she would feel waking up with Piper in her arms, smiling to herself as her heart hammered and her stomach flipped, proving to Alex once again that Piper was different, special.
Worth the effort.
At exactly eight o'clock, Piper bolted to the staff room, clocking off and heading to her locker. Taking out the change of clothes she had brought with her and had hung up before starting work, she took the change of clothes into the bathroom, stripping her work clothes like her life depended upon it, quickly spraying deodorant before pulling on her skinny jeans and her favourite grey cashmere sweater.
She pulled her work shirt from last nights shift out of her locker, rolling it up with the uniform she had worn today, shoving it into the bag she had packed earlier. Checking once again she had everything out of her locker, she pulled on her thick black coat, wrapped her scarf round her neck, and slung the strap of her purse over her head, picking up her large bag as she headed out of the staff room.
A quick glance down the aisle confirmed Alex was already stood in the store waiting for her, chatting once again to Daya who was on the checkout still. But rather than making a bee line for her, Piper detoured along the aisles, picking up a couple bottles of wine and a few bars of chocolate.
As she placed the items on the checkout, she watched the slow smile creep over Alex's face as she moved to the end of the checkout to wait for her, watchful eyes soaking up her every movement as she spoke with Daya as she made her purchases.
Daya smiled knowingly as she handed Piper her change, turning to the next customer in line as Piper moved towards Alex, struggling with the large bag with her belongings in and the grocery bag.
"Hey, let me get that," Alex was taking the large bag from her, swinging it over her shoulder with ease as she moved towards the exit, "Hungry?" she asked, holding out her hand, waiting for Piper to take it.
Piper smiled, and took Alex's hand, feeling the light squeeze Alex gave as she wrapped her slender fingers around Pipers hand.
The night air pinched at Pipers face as they stepped outside, her head swimming as she was unable to focus on anything other than the fact they were walking together, hand in hand, towards Alex's apartment for the second night in a row. It seemed like no time had passed before they were at the door to the apartment complex, staring at one another as the lift ascended, doors sliding open to the apartment that already felt more like home to Piper than anywhere else she knew.
Alex released Pipers hand, pulling out her keys from her jeans pocket, pushing open the door, allowing Piper once again to step in before her. Unlike the night before, a couple of lamps illuminated the apartment, the strings of fairy lights still casting their warm familiar glow on the apartment. As Piper moved towards the kitchen to put her grocery bag down, Alex walked towards her bedroom, Piper's bag dropping from her shoulder as she heard Piper speak for the first time since they left the store.
"Oh no Alex, remember the deal – you are sleeping in your own bed tonight-" She felt Pipers hand on her wrist, pulling her away from the bedroom door, trying, but failing to take her bag back out of Alex's grasp with her other hand,
"I'm very much aware of the deal Piper, I'm just keeping things tidy…" Alex smiled as she let the bag drop to the floor, quickly wrapping her arms behind Piper, blocking her attempts to try and reach the bag with her own body. "…Now come on, I have been slaving all day over this meal for you." Alex stepped forward, forcing Piper to step back with her, slowly guiding her away from the bedroom and towards the kitchen, her arms still wrapped around the blonde who had now stopped struggling against her, instead wrapping her own arms around Alex as they moved together.
Nearing the kitchen, Alex unwrapped her arms from around Piper; laughing at the slight pout Piper gave finding herself stood alone, no longer wrapped in the arms of Alex.
Lighting the oven, Alex nodded her head towards the cupboard to the left of her, "Pipes, fancy pouring us some wine? Choose from anything in the fridge, and the glasses are in that cupboard there."
Piper moved slowly, watching Alex as she set about her tasks in the kitchen, uncovering trays and placing them in the oven, but not allowing Piper a good look at what was on them.
"So can I ask what we are dining on?" Piper stood behind Alex, lightly placing her hands on the other woman's hips, trying to look over her shoulder at what she was preparing, but Alex had other ideas, moving deftly from side to side, laughing as she prevented Piper from glancing at her culinary efforts.
"Piper, it is meant to be a surprise!" Alex turned around, placing a light kiss on Pipers cheek, as her hands came to rest at Pipers waist, slowly pushing her away from the kitchen, "Now, if you can kindly take the wine over to the table, I shall join you in a moment with starters!"
Piper smiled as Alex flashed a grin at her, accepting the fact that she wasn't going to find out any sooner what was on the menu, Piper walked back to the table she had sat at hours before eating breakfast, a single candle in between the two place settings that were already laid out.
Piper slid into the same seat as earlier, its position affording her a view of Alex still in the kitchen, moving with purpose around the space, a slight frown on her face as she focused on something in front of her.
Pipers eyes traced the contours of Alex's body, watching as the muscles tensed in her arms as she picked up what Piper assumed were dishes from the counter in front of her, before Alex turned, pausing slightly as she felt Pipers gaze on her, then walked towards the table, a ceramic dish held with pride in her oven-gloved hands.
Placing the dish in the middle of the table, Alex removed the oven gloves, producing a lighter from her back pocket, using it to lit the candle, then took her seat, smiling happily as she watched Pipers hungry eyes now focus on the food in front of her. "Stuffed Mediterranean Peppers" she announced.
"Alex, these look delicious! "
"Mmm – hmm" Alex served Piper first, before placing one of the peppers into her own plate. "Hope you like it Piper-" but Alex had no need to continue, laughing as she looked to the blonde opposite her, already dipping her fork into the dish in front of her, nodding with each bite she took, eyes closing, quiet moans of approval leaving her lips.
"Alex, really – this is amazing... After the pancakes this morning..."
"Hey! What was wrong with the pancakes?"
"Nothing, just the prep work that went into them seemed...excessive shall we say?" Piper waggled her eyebrows at Alex, smiling as she spoke.
"Well, I can't help it if it's normally my mom who makes them. I can cook you know, just pancakes are not high up on my skill set..."
"Well – I have to say, you stuff a pepper exceedingly well".
The two looked at one another before bursting into a fit of laughter. Neither really knowing why, Pipers last comment wasn't meant to be a joke, but had both tickled them to the point of crying with laughter.
After regaining their composure, apart from an odd giggle, they continued with their starter, pleasant conversation flowing freely between them until Alex realised their plates had been empty for some time, and the last of the wine had just been poured into Pipers glass.
Alex stood up, collecting the used plates and empty bottle, calling to Piper over her shoulder as she moved towards the kitchen, "So – rare, medium or well done?"
Puzzled for a moment, Piper quickly realised Alex was talking about steak, so grabbing the wine glasses from the table, she sauntered over to the kitchen island, perching on one of the stools as she watched Alex start her prep again. "I thought you said steak was your choice for a meal? What about impressing your date?" the two large glasses of wine she had consumed making her bold in her questions.
"Way I saw it – if you weren't impressed with the starters and decided to leave – at least I could have a decent meal by myself " Alex winked, but Piper could sense a slight hint of insecurity beneath Alex's words, which was hidden as quickly as it appeared as she chuckled, "Plus, after all the effort I've put in, figured you wouldn't mind sharing a favourite meal of mine with me..."
Piper smiled, making Alex wait a little longer until she answered her original question "Medium-rare, please."
Alex turned with a smile, waving a hand over the griddle pan that had been heating up, before lowering the two large steaks onto the hot surface, sizzling and spitting as they began to cook.
She shooed Piper back to the table with full wine glasses, as she continued to keep a watchful eye on the steaks, turning them at the exact moment, stirring the contents of the two pans, and peering into the oven to check on its contents.
Standing straight, Alex exhaled slowly, everything was going well, the prep she had done earlier today proving worthwhile as the alcohol she had consumed so easily whilst talking to Piper now flooded her system, making her feel light headed.
Thinking of Piper, she stole a moment to glance over to where Piper was sat, one leg tucked underneath her as she held her wine glass by the stem, gazing out of the window onto the lights of the city below them. Alex wished there was some way she could capture this moment, wished she could remember how she felt as she looked over to Piper, the woman who seemed to have taken over her thoughts and feelings so completely in the little time she had known her.
Smiling to herself, Alex turned back to the food, when she was happy everything was as it should be, she began plating up, neatly arranging the steak with the sides and garnish until she was pleased with her work. Tucking another bottle of wine under her arm, she took hold of the plates and walked towards Piper, her heart skipping a beat as Piper heard her approach, turning in her seat to face her with the most genuine, radiant smile Alex had ever seen. There was an honesty in her look that calmed her racing heart, but also managed to speed it up at the same time. To Alex, that look meant Piper wanted to be here, wanted to be spending her time with her. That whatever Alex was feeling, Piper felt it too.
She placed the two dishes down, topped up Piper's wine glass, then sat, looking across the table as Piper's eyes went wide at the meal in front of her, as Alex explained what she had in front of her.
"Ok so it's filet steak, cooked to your liking… baby leaf spinach in a ginger and lime sauce, roasted cherry tomatoes and whipped potatoes. I hope you like it…"
"Like it? My god Alex, this looks incredible - and it smells…amazing," Piper drew out the word amazing, she truly was astounded by the meal that had been placed in front of her. It wouldn't have looked out of place in any of the high-end restaurants or country clubs that she had once frequented with her parents. The steak was beautifully cooked, the cherry tomatoes precariously balanced on top, with the two sides adding further colour to the plate, and making Pipers mouth water.
"Don't just look at it Piper – eat!" Alex encouraged – picking up her steak knife, but hesitating, wanting to watch Piper take the first bite of her food, waiting to make sure she really did enjoy it. Alex didn't have to wait long, she watched Piper cut into the steak, which the knife sliced through like butter, loading her fork with a small amount of the greens and potato, she looked on anxiously as Piper took her first small bite; blue eyes disappearing momentarily as she closed her eyes, once again a noise of approval escaping her lips as she tasted the food Alex had so carefully prepared.
Opening her eyes, Piper was met with intense green eyes staring at her, before she could speak; Alex's low, rasping voice was floating through the air, the eagerness in her eyes to know Pipers thoughts apparent "So? You like it?"
"Alex" Piper's voice was barely a whisper. For a brief moment Piper played with the idea of teasing Alex, making her think she didn't like it, but she couldn't do it. It was clear Alex had put her heart into this meal, wanted to make it special for Piper.
"Do you want the truth?" Piper saw Alex straighten slightly, concern flickering over her face as she glanced at everything on Pipers plate, seeming to try and work out if there was something wrong with what she had done, so Piper spoke quickly, "This truly is the best meal anyone has ever prepared for me. It's cooked to perfection – and tastes, sublime. I love it, I really do…"
Piper saw Alex visibly relax in front of her, tense shoulders eased, and a wide smile began to form. With a laugh in her voice Piper decided to continue,
"There is only one problem though…" Piper paused – looking straight at Alex as those green eyes and furrowed brow wordlessly questioned her, "The way I see it…after a meal like this…you are going to have to cook every meal I ever eat!"
It took a moment as Alex took in Pipers words and the dazzling smile on the blondes face, but the laugh that came from Alex was from deep within, echoing round the apartment, wiping the tension that had sat in the pit of her stomach as to whether Piper would like the meal she had worked so damn hard on.
Alex raised her glass towards Piper in a toast. "If that's what it takes kid, I'd be happy with that.'
Piper raised her glass, smiling at Alex as they both took a generous sip from their glasses, before making light work of the meal in front of them.
Piper leaned back on her chair, spreading her hands over her stomach, which felt ten times larger. "I think I am going to burst – that was delicious Al, really, but I don't think I could eat another bite!"
"There isn't another bite for you to eat Pipes, you've eaten everything on your plate and you stole off mine – don't think I didn't see!"
"Can you blame me? I don't know what you did to that spinach but it was heavenly…and those potatoes…so creamy…"
Alex stood, reaching her arm towards Piper in order to take her plate, "I just worked my magic. I'm glad you liked it Pipes-" She felt a cool hand wrap around her wrist, stilling her movements, looking up – her eyes met with Pipers, those blue eyes drilling into her.
"Alex. I was being serious before – that was, without a doubt, the best meal I have ever had. Thank you".
"You really need to stop thanking me Piper, it was nothing special…" Alex looked away briefly; her eyes returning back to Piper as she felt a squeeze from the hand around her wrist.
"It was special to me. So thank you."
Alex looked at Piper, studying the woman opposite her, knowing that Piper meant every word that she had said to her this evening. "Then in that case, it was my pleasure." Alex felt the hand loosen at her wrist, allowing her to pick up the plate in front of Piper. Smiling, she spoke, this time her voice lighter, "Let me shift these plates, then I think I need to sit somewhere comfy before I even contemplate dessert."
"There's still more?"
"Mmmm-hmm. I'll hold my hands up now – it's not something I've made – in case you weren't aware, baking is not really my thing, but what I have got is the some of the best cake this side of the city, I don't think you will be disappointed."
"Well, how could I refuse?"
"Go make yourself comfy on the sofa, I'll be over in a minute".
Alex tidied the dishes from table, stacking everything as neatly as she could in the kitchen, as Piper settled herself under the fleecy blanket that she had pulled from off the back of the sofa. Leaning back against the comfy cushions, surrounded by the warmth of the blanket she closed her eyes, focusing on the sounds of Alex as she moved around, quietly humming to herself. It was comforting, and Piper felt herself drifting off as the combination of delicious food and copious amounts of wine made Piper feel content, happy and tired.
Piper was startled as she felt the sofa dip suddenly to the side of her, as Alex sat down heavily, leaning forward as she did to place a plate with a large piece of cake and two forks on the coffee table in front of them, before leaning back into the sofa.
She kicked her shoes off, then in one easy movement, lifted her long legs to rest on the table, whilst placing her arm round Piper, pulling her closer. As Pipers head leaned into the crook of Alex's neck, she felt Alex place a kiss on top of her head and she closed her eyes again, breathing in the warm sweet smell of Alex that seemed a heady mix of vanilla and coconut.
"You smell nice Al…of coconut" Piper mumbled sleepily against Alex's neck.
"That's not me, that's the cake Pipes…and are you falling asleep on me?"
"No – I'm just resting my eyes…"
"Ahh –huh, sure. Well, before you rest them completely, here, you need to try this" Piper felt Alex shift as she leaned forward, reaching for the plate with the cake on.
"Oh, Alex, I can't – I really am full from everything…"
"Just one bite, and then I'll be happy…all three courses done." Alex used one of the forks to cut a corner off the cake, holding it out for Piper to eat. Relenting, Piper leaned forward, sighing before she opened her mouth so Alex could feed her the cake, eyes closing yet again as she tasted the cake. The sponge was moist and light, and delicately flavoured with coconut – and somewhere, just a hint of what she thought was raspberry.
Piper opened her eyes to see Alex once again staring at her – eyebrow raised and a smirk creeping across her face. "Didn't I tell you – best cake this side of the city!" Piper didn't need any further encouragement, she leaned up, taking the second fork in her hand, and started eating the cake along with Alex, who was already breaking off chunks with the fork in her hand, this time she was the one moaning as she ate. Looking back to Piper, Alex laughed, "I thought you were full? Couldn't eat another bite you said…"
"Well that was before you fed me cake…where is this from?"
"Oh no – this place is my little secret…I'm not sharing…"
"Why not?"
"You'd eat all the cake – there would be none left for me!"
Piper chuckled, shoving her cake-laden fork towards Alex, who ate the offered food, the grin on her face only serving to make Piper laugh as they continued to eat, until the slice of cake was demolished, leaving only a few crumbs on the plate.
Once the cake was finished, the two leaned back onto the sofa, Alex once again stretching her legs to rest on the table, her arm around Piper, who nestled up against Alex's side, the blanket wrapped around them as Alex aimlessly flicked through the channels trying to find something for them to watch. She only stopped as she heard the faint sound of snoring coming from the blonde next to her, realising that Piper was drifting off to sleep against her.
Alex shifted on the sofa, trying not to disturb the sleeping blonde as she placed her free arm under Pipers knees, supporting her as she lifted her from the sofa, and began to carry her towards the bedroom. She thought she had made it when the blonde stirred as Alex pushed open the bedroom door with her foot, Piper's voice croaking as she spoke,
"We had a deal Alex, you sleep in your own bed tonight…"
Alex placed Piper down on top of the duvet, before sitting on the edge of the bed, a hand tucking a loose strand of blonde hair behind Pipers ear as she spoke, "See, about that deal…"
Piper started to wake up, shifting herself up the bed as she did so, "Oh no….you can't go back, you promised Al…"
"I know I did – and I don't intend to break that promise…" There was a slow smile creeping over her face, which was starting to puzzle Piper. They had made a deal, Alex was to sleep in her own bed.
"So why didn't you leave me on the sofa?"
"Well, the way I see it, you made me promise that I would sleep in my bed tonight…correct?"
"Yes…" Piper was still puzzled, still not quite seeing what Alex was leading to.
"But you didn't make me promise where you would sleep tonight"
Piper went to speak, her mouth opening, but as she thought back to her words earlier that day, Piper suddenly realised where Alex was going with this. Piper had made Alex promise she would sleep in her own bed and although Pipers intention had been for her to sleep on the sofa, she had not specifically expressed it; she smiled at Alex, who had been watching her intently as the realisation had fallen over her. She sighed, shaking her head as she smiled at Alex, "Trust you to find a loop-hole in my deal."
Alex shifted towards her, resting a hand against her cheek, stopping her from shaking her head, making her look directly at her, "Pretty big loop hole if you ask me…." Piper sighed, but before she could speak, Alex was moving closer to her, her other hand now against her other cheek, holding her gently as she spoke.
"If you want to sleep on the sofa, that's fine, I'm not going to stop you. I don't want to rush you, or force you to do anything you don't want to do." Alex stopped for a moment, taking a breath before she continued, looking deep into Pipers blue eyes as she did so, "But waking up with you still in my apartment this morning was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. I destroyed my kitchen making pancakes for you, spent all day thinking about you whilst you were at work, wondering if you were thinking about me… I worried over daft things like whether you would prefer plum or cherry tomatoes with your meal for god sake!" Alex sighed, more at herself for revealing how sappy and daft she had been during the day, but noticing how Piper was smiling at her, she carried on. "So although it's going to make me sound like a cheesy fucker, there is something about you Piper Chapman that I just can't let go of, and I honestly can't think of a better way to wake up on Christmas day, than with you in my arms, next to me."
Piper needed no words, instead she shifted forward, connecting her lips with those of Alex, hoping to convey with her kiss how much she wanted the same thing too. She felt Alex smiling into the kiss, finding herself doing the same, pulling herself closer to Alex, wrapping her arms behind Alex's neck.
"Is that a yes?" Alex's voice was rough as her lungs pulled in air, but the emotion in her voice was clear as day.
"It's a yes, you idiot"
Alex watched the digits on the clock by the side of her bed change, indicating the start of a new day. Leaning into Piper, who was fast asleep in her arms, her back pressed into Alex's front, she brushed the strands of blonde hair away from the nape of her neck, kissing the exposed skin lightly, before whispering into her ear, "Merry Christmas, Piper."
A/N: First off – I know I haven't got to Nicky's Christmas meal – but I had it my head that I had written into the story that it was two days before Christmas when Alex and Nicky saw Piper in the store. It was only when I was halfway through writing when I realised I hadn't actually made it clear what day they met her – but I had this whole Christmas Eve thing planned out by then, so I've gone with it. Since this is so massively long – I will do the meal – but will be more like an epilogue, rather than another chapter, since this is what happens, I end up with thousands of words.
As to my other stories – I promise you I have not forgotten about them – but I do seem to have found myself with a lot of smaller stories, all unfinished. I have been quite busy recently, a holiday, Christmas, then starting back to work after being off for nearly a month – the little groove I had got into for putting time aside to write was well and truly messed with. I'm getting back into it , but I want to try and finish these "short" mini-fics, before I start focusing back on Something Good.
These shorter ones are a lot easier to write for me, especially after coming home from a long day at work – as I can see where they are heading- and how they will end up, I'm still developing SG – so it needs more time. So please – stick with me. I won't give up on any of the ones I have started – I just need time to get back into my groove!
I also want to take the time to thank all the wonderful people who have posted reviews, sent me PMs about my fics, or even just messages to check I am OK since I haven't posted for a while. Thank you.
Big thanks have to go out to Ejm137, Liggycow, Chelle234, JenSurname and WB79 who keep me smiling with their wonderful messages. You guys rock!