Piper was a terrible patient. She didn't like how slowly she had to move or how long her therapy was scheduled. Slowly her leg began to get stronger and she could take walks. At first the doctor said she could take a small walk Piper took that to mean she could walk down the block and to the park. It was finally a day that was sort of like Spring and Piper walked outside while Alex was carrying linen upstairs. She just wanted to test herself. At first she just felt a bit stiff and her leg didn't really ache. When she reached the corner a part of her said she should probably turn around. Yet, she told herself she'd go to the end of the street and rest on the bench. Halfway down the block she had to stop and lean against a stoop. Both of her legs were weak and she was just absolutely pissed off.

Her would ached and it hadn't ached in over a week. Piper had to stop herself from rubbing her upper thigh. She learned that muscle massage could pull at stitches if you weren't careful. She bent over at her waist to calm herself. People passed and Piper made herself stand up. She turned and came face to face with Larry. She looked a mess, pale and in pain. Piper knew without a doubt that Alex was looking for her by now.

And then there was Larry. He had moved for a job and she hadn't seen him in months. He smiled and looked at her with concern in his eyes. His parent's place wasn't in this area, what the fuck was he doing on her street?

"Hey Pipes, um good to see you. Are you okay? My Aunt Elma heard you were in an accident," Larry stammered. Piper could see by his expression she looked like she felt.

"Please don't "Hey Pipes" me like we're old friends-"

"But we are old friends Piper. I've known you for years ...look no matter, you look like you need some help. So I am going to offer my arm and walk slowly back to your place," Larry said in what Piper was sure he thought was a charming tone. Still, she saw that confident, sweet man that always believed in her. She saw that man flash across his face and she felt a pang of familiarity.

Piper started to walk on without taking his arm. He sighed but followed closely. She frowned but felt a wave of dizziness sweep over her. She tried to cover it by stopping and rubbing her face but apparently she swayed too far off kilter. He steadied her and she started to complain.

Piper looked at him and saw him up close. There were circles under his eyes and his hair was a mess even for Larry. Now, she'd say he looked like that most weekends or vacations when he partied too much...but this had something about it that was sad.

"I'm...fine. Are you okay?" Piper asked as she turned to keep walking down the street, not really waiting on him to respond. She was going to power through this discomfort and maybe only do an hour of physical therapy tomorrow. Larry kept his hand on her arm and shifted his grocery bag to his shoulder.

" I was visiting Walter, he moved here. I'm fine considering, thank you for asking," Larry responded. It was in a way that told Piper he had been saying it regularly.

"What circumstances?" she inquired. Piper managed to get his hand off her shoulder by shrugging to the left. He didn't argue but she was sure he was poised to catch her. She clenched her teeth and tried to focus and listen. She was caught between wanting Alex to appear and help her and wanting to get back in the small hope she didn't know Piper had walked way too far.

"Oh, I thought you knew. My father died last week. I'm staying here with Walter..my aunt is staying with my mom and well she isn't doing so great," Larry said. Piper felt terrible for him and saw his father's face flash before her. He had never thought Larry should marry her but he had enjoyed the spark she brought to his family.

"I'm sorry, Larry. No one is telling me anything, they're treating me like an invalid-" Piper began, her head was down as she walked, trying to focus on her feet. She saw her boots first then heard her voice.

"That is because you are barely out of a damn hospital bed and have just now been cleared to take small walks...around the house!" Alex said the last part through clenched teeth. Piper looked up and smiled her best smile but she saw the look of alarm on her wife's face when she saw the faceted shades of pale that was her skin.

Larry tensed and took a small step back as Alex enveloped her and immediately hoisted her weight under her arm. Piper was immediately taken back to that sick walk down the hallway of Litchfield. The infection was nothing compared to the ache of Alex with Nicky. Piper leaned on her and buried her head in her shoulder.

"I'm sorry. You're right. I over did it and got caught a block and a half too far from home. Larry happened by and helped. He lost his father, did you know?" Piper asked her leaning back to search her eyes. Immediately, Alex looked away. The old Alex would have stared her down and lied to her face. Her wife didn't lie to her anymore and she looked horribly guilty each time because Piper knew her first reaction was to lie and each time she was disappointed in herself for not immediately thinking of honesty. Piper didn't have much room to talk and Alex always made the right choice...she had kept things from Piper but this one she knew came from her Mother.

"Let me guess- Mother didn't want me upset and insisting that I got to the funeral. " Piper guessed. Alex nodded.

"She was going to tell you tomorrow at dinner. Hello Larry, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Thank you for your assistance, now if you'll excuse me I need to help my wife home to rest." Larry didn't blink when she blatantly called Piper her wife. She got the girl and he didn't...she was more worried about Piper but still Alex was there underneath all of that. She has suffered for months alone without Piper because of his inability to really let her go.

" Oh yes, congratulations...I heard about it..a surprise Christmas wedding in a book store. I always thought you'd elope to Vegas Piper," Larry joked. Piper smiled. They had an agreement that the moment their mother's fought over wedding preparations they would elope to Vegas and get married. They would return and through a big party. She had always thought he'd chicken out in the end but it had been a nice plan.

"No, it was perfect and romantic. Please give our best to your mother. " Piper responded but she was getting to the point where she wasn't sure her legs would last up the stoop. Luckily, Lorna got out of a taxi out front and immediately came to Alex's assistance. She did a double take at Larry but he had the good sense to turn and leave Piper to her family's ministrations.

"Is that...oh..woah there Chapman, you're legs aren't too steady. What are ya doin' out here? You can't push your recovery," Lorna cooed but she helped her up the stairs. Piper mumbled as she was taken inside and put to rest on the front sofa. Soon she was in bed and having to take a pain pill. Alex, despite her protests, cancelled dinner with Nicky and Lorna so she could rest.

"I feel like a teenager you're punishing-" Piper began to argue.

Alex slammed her palm down hard on the bedside table. Piper jumped. "You're acting like one! That was stupid Piper! You have got to stop thinking about what you want and consider for a moment what your actions do to others. Get your head out of your ass Chapman and help me here. I can't live through losing you and I swear I'm going to be the one to kill you if you don't take better care of yourself!" Alex had been quiet all evening and Piper was waiting on this explosion. She nodded softly and moved down in the bed some. Alex walked around the room, cooling down her temper. Piper could barely stay awake but she knew she'd fucked up royally again and she just wanted to do something right.

"I just want to be able to go for a walk with you. I feel cooped up...trapped. I haven't felt this way...since the track was closed. I feel like I can't breathe and all you do is take care of me. I don't want to be a burden and our life seem boring. I want X in Cambodia and ski slopes with Cocoa. I want you smiling and I keep fucking that smile up." Piper closed her eyes tight and she felt the tears run down her cheek and one fall down the side of her face in to her ear.

She felt Alex on the bed as she curled up beside her. "I completely understand. I say things and I don't even recognize myself. You're right, I'm not this person who sits still, remodels homes and spends time being a nurse maid. But for you...with you...I want to be whatever you need me to be...and right now you need this. " Alex reached out and held her hand tightly. Piper didn't respond as she drifted off to an exhausted slumber.

Piper followed all the rules and was up and walking with a cane in two weeks. She did two events and was on HuffyLive. Alex went with her to the studio and became a pretty good team working with Eva. The interview was really fun but she was exhausted afterwards. Alex politely turned down offers to go out afterwards. Piper slipped comfortably into her arms and let her navigate their social activity with skill. She was getting rather good at sharing facts. By now their story was out though neither had officially answered any questions about it. Piper would stick to the issues and usually only got in trouble if she was directly speaking about the book. They talked about maybe just doing an interview together once and telling the story. Neither was really ready for that and Piper kept checking in with Alex to see if she was alright with the exposure. Alex was actually rather poised with microphones but had reservations about sharing details of the abuse they suffered. It helped that Piper had sort of glossed over some of the details in the book, but the Trial exposed some of her abuse. She glossed over details because she was covering for what could be considered crimes...and she was protecting those still under the thumb of the guards.

Alex got them a cab and soon they were heading back towards the apartment. Piper was tired but still it was so wonderful to be close to Alex and walking. She was going slow and was acting as Piper's cane. "How tired is your leg?" Alex whispered in her ear as they snuggled in the back of the cab. It was cold again and Piper was eager for March to leave completely.

"Not so tired I can't do what I want to do to you when I get home," Piper answered in a voice loud enough to be heard by the cabby. Alex grinned and Piper saw the young man dart his eyes up to the rear view and back to the road.

"What is it you want to do?" Alex asked again with her lips to Piper's ear. Piper smiled and licked her lips.

"I'm going to ride your very talented mouth until I pass out. I miss you..it is making me cranky. Then I want my wonderful wife to whisk me away somewhere." Piper pulled her head down and kissed her. Alex leaned back and was her cool self. Piper watched her face...waiting with her bright eyes darting all over Alex's face as she saw her happiness slowly seep through. Alex was smiling with a smug expression that totally made Piper want to straddle her in the cab.

"That sounds fantastic." Alex grinned at her as she said it and leaned in to kiss Piper's neck. She shivered and moved closer to her. It was a wonderful ride, full of teasing and touching that made Piper's body sing. They got out at the store and Alex was explaining that she ordered them some Thai for dinner and had Taystee get it. Piper wasn't thinking about dinner at all but she walked in to the store.

"Hey Pipes, I was watching you here...good show! Huff Entertainment reported you and your wife darted away to avoid the photographers after that event at the courthouse." Taystee changed her voice to the one she does that is a dead ringer for half the girls Piper knew growing up.

"Yes we decided to come home for an early night, " Alex said as she darted in to get their food. Piper waved and headed towards the stairs.

"Oh yeah, um listen there is someone up there at your door. I didn't want her to wait down here." Taystee began. Piper looked at her and squinted. She started up the stairs and winced on the landing. She stopped to wait on Alex. She still had her cane. Piper looked up and saw none other than Becca Kanen on her doorstep. She stood with her arms crossed in front of her and she looked pissed.

"What are you doing here?" Piper asked outright. She stood straighter and put her hands on her hips. Alex was coming up the flight below her and saw Piper's expression before she looked up to see who Piper addressed.

"Who- what is going on Piper?" Alex asked.

"There you are...how could you Alex? I expect crap from your crazy ass wife, but I expected more from you." Becca spat.

Piper moved around Alex and started up the stairs. "Oh hell no you didn't," she said. Alex grabbed her around the waist and glared at Becca.

"Watch your mouth and don't insult her again. I won't tell you again." Alex said in a voice that made Piper look over at her. She had that look...the one she only saw when Alex dealt with the higher ups in the organization. Alex preferred to get back at people with her brain, but events that ravaged her life had changed her.

"Come on, both of you. We run a business here Becca and the steps of our apartment isn't the place to discuss private business." Piper said as she headed up the stairs. She willed herself not to feel the throb in her leg as she walked past Becca. She fairly pulsated with rage and hate. Piper straightened her back and adopted her coldest attitude. She felt like she did long ago in that bathroom where she let the her outrage flow freely. She opened her door, walked in and automatically punched in the code. Piper walked in to her kitchen and kept her back to Becca and Alex. She went straight for the wine.

"Merlot Alex?" she asked in a light tone. Becca made some sort of sound that made Piper smile.

"Oh I'm sorry. I had plans to fuck my wife and eat Thai in bed. Your...whatever fucking issue has interrupted those plans so get over yourself. Trust me, you want me to drink some wine." Piper said with icy venom. Alex put the food on the counter.

"Yes, I'll have a glass. Becca I know you don't drink alcohol-" Alex began.

"Oh no, please I'll have a glass too. Then maybe you can explain to me why the fuck you are trying to ruin the life of my only child?" Becca said through gritted teeth. Piper popped a cork out of the wine and Alex looked back at her with a complete look of surprise.

Piper poured her wine and smiled.

***Hi, readers. I am crazy busy with work. Writing is slow but the story is churning in the pool of my imagination. Please review! Peace, Fae***