Chapter Eight

Piper looked up at Becca and cursed, "Ah shit." This made Becca laugh and that pissed Piper off even more. She clenched her jaw and moved around the bar to start her own coffee. What was she doing there? She had been assured by all three of them that Becca would not come to her home. Piper realized a few weeks prior that the considered the store and the apartment home. She met Alex again in this store...she got married thirty feet from where she was currently standing! She knew she was being petty, insecure and possessive. Piper tensed her entire body and tried to release the breath she'd been holding.

"Hey, um I'll get that Ma'am. What do you want? Two cups of coffee? Alex still take double cream and one sugar?" Becca asked in a friendly, shop girl tone. Piper clenched her jaw.

"Maybe if she was drinking prison swill instant coffee. In the real world, Alex likes a two shot hazelnut latte. I get my own while here at home. Don't mind me, you can set out the specials sign though. It is the bacon scone and hot cocoa deal. The corresponding books are stacked by the cooler at this store, we don't have the extra storage closet."Piper replied in what she hoped was an even tone but she knew she had failed. Becca stood frozen for a moment and Piper turned her back to her as she started to make her love's drink. She continued as she did, to help Becca set up for the day. Luanne had shown her how to open and close back there. It had been the only time they actually got to hang out and she had worked hard to do it right. She maybe she was trying to adopt the same attitude and that is why she slipped in to business mode, she didn't really know. Becca turned and set about the task of setting out the sign.

Raven walked over and leaned in to Piper, "I'm sorry we have only five-" Piper held up her hand to silence her.

"Just a really fucking bad morning for me, don't worry about it. Is Taystee going to make it in?" Piper asked.

"No, she is off remember? She and Poussey left before the storm so they could head back to her place to pick up her things, say goodbye- she took a couple days off and I'm covering.

"Wait, where did you stay last night? Raven you live on the other-" Piper asked, suddenly concerned how she got there so quickly. Raven pointed upstairs and Piper suddenly remembered. Yes, Raven slept in the loft last night. She took comfort in the fact she was an early riser and had come down to the store before Piper had her screaming nightmare. She was also pretty sure her wife had made sure their apartment was sound proofed against the store and loft.

"While I have you here, I wanted to tell you that if that meeting was canceled then you cannot do it for the next two weeks unless it is skyped. They are leaving for Madrid when the airports clear." Raven reminded her. Piper groaned and nodded. The weather was really pissing her off. She was working from home, as was half of New York and it was putting a drag on everyone's schedule. Piper spoke with her some about her testimony and the factual data she helped research for her. Piper watched Becca as her movements became sorta jerky like she was pissed as she rewiped the already clean counter.

"This is something...amazing you've been asked to do. You're bringing Press to this issue and that may really help limit the abuse of solitary confinement," Raven said to her. She was so factual with Piper all the time, this voice of sentiment touched her. Piper smiled and reached out to take her hand.

"Thanks, you are amazing and I'd still give you co-author on the written testimony if you wanted. You helped me do the research and-" Piper began.

"Nope, you are writing it and testifying before the Senate Piper. This is all yours. By the way, I had to really keep at it but I did get you room at the Jefferson and a car service for the entire time there. Have you told her yet?" Raven informed her as Piper put the lids on their lattes but first she wrote a note on the inside of Alex's lid with a black sharpie.

"Um just surprising her now," Piper said with a smile.

"Aren't we supposed to be open by now Raven?" Becca said from the other end of the bar. Piper clenched her teeth. Raven looked up at the clock on the stairwell wall and blushed.

"It is okay Raven, it isn't like there is a line at the door, the plows haven't even swiped the west lane yet," Piper said and she darted her gaze to Becca. She was met with a look of pure disdain. Piper slammed her drinks back down and the lid popped off of hers, spewing hot latte on her hand. She ignored it and turned towards Becca with the fury jumping in her eyes.

"You know Becca, I try to get along with most people...but your glare tells me you have something to say...so say it...please say it that is just what I need this morning," Piper said and as she did she moved closer to her. Raven said her name but didn't approach her. Becca turned and walked toward her in away that communicated she was totally not afraid. Piper felt a flash of anger pulse through her body and the adrenaline that accompanied it. She used to shrink from confrontation on principal...now she wanted to beat her face into the counter. It was startling to her how much she wanted to hurt her but it was an outlet for all that feeling inside of her. She met her eyes, a darker shade of blue up close and let it all show in her eyes.

"I don't like you, you got that. I don't like how you hurt Alex by choosing that fuckin' dickwad man, I don't like how you made her seem like a preditory criminal in your book then you up and marry her. You're a fucking hypocrite," Becca said.

"No, get it right. I'm a bisexual, Park Slope Narcissist that wrote a memoir. It is my fucking life story, not Alex's life story. I left all intimate details of my love life out of that book except for Larry because he was the one there for me while I was indicted. The book was about my time in the prison system...about the women that saved my ass-not the woman I fell flat fuck in love with for a second time. OH! Also, please remember you, she was HIDING from me while you were licking her cunt in her bunk -so I couldn't ask her what fucking details she wanted me to write!" Piper yelled at her and kept approaching. Becca backed up as she did and her eyes got wide.

"Piper!" Alex shouted from the foot of the stairwell where she stood in her Pajamas. She realized then she had her hand up by her head ready to punch Becca in the face.

"You are insane! Really Alex, this is what you married ? Married! You don't even believe in the institution, but you married her?" Becca exclaimed turning away from Piper and moving out and around the bar. Piper felt another flash of fury and started over the bar after her. Alex ran up to the bar and wrapped her arms around Piper.

"Calm down! Becca shut the fuck up and go to the front of the store now!" Alex commanded.

"Oh fuck no, I was polite, she glared at me like some stupid high school girl. Just let me hit her once-" Piper started as she wiggled down from the bar but Alex pushed her against the front of it, pinning her with her body.

"No, because you will feel better for about a mili-second and then be mortified at what you did and possibly be on your way to jail. No Piper, please...stop...please think...baby please think, she isn't Hinton and I'm yours," Alex said against her ear. Instantly she stopped moving. Alex was right. Piper wrapped her arms around her and stopped trying to push her aside.

"You heard her, get to the front now. Once they get the Brooklyn store open, I'll juggle around someone and you can go. Keep your mouth shut and remember please you just insulted an owner," Raven said to Becca in a cold business tone.

"I said nothing about Alex, except her taste in women sucks as it always has," Becca replied.

"As you pointed out, they are married and from what I know about them...and you see I do know them, I've watched them scratch and claw their way to each other's arms since they found each other again- what I know about them is if you insult one, you insult both. Now, I'll fix this, it was my fault for bringing you into her home," Raven replied.

Alex turned her head, still holding Piper. She buried her head in her neck and wanted to just disappear. Her heart was calming and she could think beyond the red film of fury.

"Just go to the front and do your damn job Kanen," Alex said over her shoulder. Piper heard her last name and remembered reading it. She thought about her dress and the designer she met last week at that publisher party. Somehow, the contrast between the two like named women made her giggle. It was idiotic and she knew it made her sound insane.

Alex turned back to her and her expression was one of pure fear. Piper brought her hand up to her mouth, " Just, I forgot..Becca Kane..that designer Rebecca Kane...so dif-" Piper explained through giggles.

"Piper don't!" Alex said and she turned. Piper could see over her shoulder as Becca stiffened at the register. She glared at Alex with such hate.

"You promised you'd never tell!"Becca said through clenched teeth.

"Fuck, " was all Alex said. Piper sobered and then looked at Becca and then Alex. She thought for a moment and considered the young blonde girl she met at the party. She had already bought the dress and told her she was wearing it for a special occasion. Rebecca had been bright and so intelligent. She had just finished her first show and she had given part of the proceeds to WPA. Piper put the pieces together and then felt like an idiot for not noticing sooner.

She looked at Alex and squinted. She went on and on about that girl when she got back that night. Alex had said nothing. She was Becca's daughter. Rebecca told her about being a foster kid and growing up in the New York system. Her real mother was serving time in Prison and they didn't see each other.

"I'm an idiot. Well, I had only see her once and the name..and I might have a lot on my mind. She didn't tell me. She kept your secret like a good girl," Piper said as she turned and shrugged off Alex's arms.

"Your latte is getting cold. Piper said as she reached for hers and headed back upstairs. Alex called her name and she just shot her a bird. Poor Raven ducked behind the coffee bar and knelt to count cups. She was a floating mess from one extreme to the other. Her anger bounced about like a ricocheting bullet. She hadn't had a day like this in so long it was scaring the hell out of her. Once upstairs, she knew Alex wouldn't be far behind. Quickly she gathered her electronics, penned a note she left on the counter and darted towards the back door. She slipped out and saw the steps. Alex and Raven had poured enough crap on them; she found purchase enough to climb the flight of fifteen in her house slippers.

They were soaked when she got to the top but she didn't care. It was toasty inside and she kicked them off at the door. Piper sipped her cooling latte while sitting cross legged on the plush bed. Alex had kept a secret for her. Piper knew she could have learned it in NA or after sex in bed...Piper fell back and looked up at the ceiling. She just wasn't sure she could separate her mixed emotions over about Becca. Suddenly though she knew her on a different level. She'd seen women that refused to allow their kids to see them in prison. She had thought often about it while there. She saw the good it did the women that saw their kids and believed to her core that it did the kids good as well. But she had to admit she didn't know the other side of it. Not all kids would see their parents and not all parents would come to see their kids. It was always complicated and Piper had learned not to judge.

Piper finally just leaned up and decided she had to be productive or she'd just fall apart. Piper started working on her paper for the Senate. The stories she read were upsetting and it brought back flashbacks from her own time in the SHU. It was personal and this was hard. Yet she detached like she was writing a paper in college. College, her prison knick name that Tricia gave her. Poussey and Taystee would still use it sometimes with her.

She finished her first draft and got up to make herself some soup. She had been up there for four hours. She left her cell phone on the desk downstairs. She knew Raven would field any calls from work. She had arranged this time to write and it was being honored.

She was taking a bowl out of the microwave when she heard the door open and Alex kicking the snow off her shoes. She went to the small table and sat with her feet tucked up sipping her cup of organic veggie soup.

"I brought you some lunch. Soup actually...I see you already have some," Alex said with a disappointed voice. Piper held up her hand and showed her the soup.

"Well here is more if you want it. I made that Thai ginger soup you like so much," Alex offered again in a gentle tone. Piper sighed and hated the fact she felt she has to walk on egg shells around her. She had seen her Dad do that for her mom more than once.

"I'm pissed Alex. I know you had your reasons for not telling me and I am well aware that I over reacted to her being here," Piper said." I called Dr. Speer, her office is closed for the weather."

"Yeah about that, you know there was a blizzard? Seems like Becca is going to work here all day..four employees were caught in New Jersey because of a wedding they all attended...others are just not able to open. We're going to close Nicky's store for now and open after the weather clears. I've been on the phone, cooking or helping downstairs since you came up here but I can't wait anymore. I had to see if you're okay, Piper I'm sorry," Alex answered her. She apologized. She meant it and apologized.

"I'm sorry you got a fuckin' ticking time bomb for a wife. I thought I was better...I thought..." Piper said waving her hand and then instantly the tears came. She knew they would when she was finally home alone with her. She swallowed back her tears. "But I'm still pissed you kept a secret for her. I understand she has to be here now, we're trying to run a business. I tried to just be professional and help her out with opening but resentment just rolled off of her and ignited my already smoldering anger."

Alex nodded and leaned against the sink. She pushed up her glasses and had her arms across her body. She watched her bite her lip and the look of fear cross her face. Piper was struck with how much she loves her wife.

"Hey Time Out for a minute..in our fight or whatever this is...you know I love you right? I'm overwhelmed and crazy at the moment...pissed off and jealous, but time out so you know I love you and we're gonna be alright," Piper said in a hushed tone. She watched Alex straightened up and walked over to her.

"Okay, time out. I'm confused and worried about you. I don't think its fair you're mad at me for keeping something from you that I learned in NA- but I understand why it was one more straw on an already trembling back. So yeah, time out...I love you too." Alex replied. Piper smiled at her and Alex walked over to kiss her. Piper wrapped her arms, then her legs around Alex and was carried to the bed. Alex was careful to place her down, then gently move her laptop and papers off the bed.

"I want to read that draft when we're done with Time Out and fighting," Alex murmured in her ear as she started to kiss down her throat. Piper wasn't sure when she'd be done with the fight..and she planned on the Time Out taking most of the afternoon.

"Sure, sure...now kiss me right there," Piper whispered back as she moved Alex's head to her left breast. She moaned as her love complied.

****** Please review! I was love writing more regularly! Please review! Blessings, Fae***