Chapter Twenty Three

Piper woke as Alex untangled her body from hers and pulled the warmth away. "Shhh go back to sleep, I gotta head to the store to open up," Alex whispered. Piper turned and grabbed her around the waist and pulled Alex back down in to the covers.

"No...no stay...I'll fix it...I'll fix it," Piper murmured. It was too much how Alex used to get up and leave her in hotel rooms to go to work. She would either be in her phone or leave the room all together. No, Piper thought to herself...I can do something about this. She reached over and grabbed her phone in the dim light of the room. Her body hurt in that deep ache that made her glow from the inside out. She hit the familiar button and called. "Hey Raven, sorry to bother you this early on a Sunday but neither Alex nor I feel well and I need you to get Taystee to open up today. Let her know I'll get her back. Also, please cancel all but the Thursday events in New Orleans with a tentative yes due to illness," Piper murmured. She felt Alex stiffen then laugh softly at Piper's scratchy voice. "What is the ailment? Well, it's mental to be honest, so you think of something appropriate and text it to me later. Thank you Raven, good night or um morning."

Piper tossed her phone down on the bed side rug after turning off the ringer. She was not getting out of bed. She snuggled down in the soft comforter. She missed this comforter. Alex seemed to sink in to the bed. "I forget I pay someone to get up on the mornings I can't and open up. I'm used to doing everything myself...and you don't have to cancel your important work. " Alex said to her softly...she moved and shifted carefully as if in pain. Piper looked at her with a quizzical gaze.

"You scored my back...I'm covered in Piper claw marks. Roger used to call me your scratching post," Alex smirked. Piper blushed some then she pulled back some and moved up so her forehead was even with Alex.

"I'm not sorry...I'm rather sore myself. Alex...first, let me say I'm sorry for running. I'll...well I guess I explained some last night about that...but it is a habit I have that I promised to work on...second, we can't keep using sex to solve our problems-"

"Hey, we didn't. I mean...yeah maybe we did but it was more of a way of settling a fight. I'm just not going to be separated from you anymore by our anger. I married you for a reason, those vows have to count for something," Alex interjected. Piper nodded softly and pressed her naked body closer to Alex. She could hear her heart beating strong in her chest. It was comforting. She felt her breathing change and she was fairly sure Alex fell back to sleep. It wasn't quiet Six AM yet.

Piper started to whisper to her quietly, "You see, I've never seen you with anyone you've slept with...well once Nora ...you hugged her. I hated that...I would imagine you with Nicky so much I couldn't eat. You share better than me. I'm trying but I'm a big fucking baby. You see...that is what Pensatucky said...no one would love me, that I wasn't worthy of your love. I lost it. I just gave in to the desperation and fear that what she was the truth. I feel like I've been angry and fighting ever since." Piper stroked her side with her fingertips and listened to her heart beat steadily on under her ear.

"I'm also a bit pissed you turned to drugs and now I'm petrified I'm going to lose you to drugs in another way. I'm a lush...my mom drinks too much. Yet, it is always about me. My god, how can you love a horses ass like me," Piper murmured before she started to quietly sob.

Alex moved her hand, making Piper jump with surprise. She was convinced Alex was completely asleep. "The same way you love a pragmatic, drug dealin' , junky, book worm like me," Alex murmured in her sleep voice. Piper smiled some and reached up to wipe her eyes. She closed her red rimmed eyes and let the quiet of the room close in around them. Piper felt Alex kiss her head softly right as she fell back to sleep.

Sometime later Piper was snuggled up to Alex's body when she felt someone poke her shoulder. She popped open one eye and winced at the light coming in through the windows. She knew from experience that the shadows mean it is nearly noon. She scrunched up her face and turned her head to see Polly's face before her.

"You two are like horny teenagers. You're an old married couple now. Geez Pipes, your lube is by the bed and the room still smells like sex. Did you have a sex marathon with your parents downstairs?" Polly quipped. Piper winced and looked to see that her wife's perfect back was completely naked before Polly. She flipped the cover over to land perfectly across her perfect ass. She heard Polly hiss in disappointment. Her eyes fell to the lube by the bed and she realized that Alex must have found it...in the dark. She looked down and couldn't place the kind of lube. They had a very specific type known as plain and simple, "Sex Grease". This was some water based lube that was all natural as well but it seemed to be more organic.

She blinked and said " Ewww...she used my brother's lube. I may be sick," Piper murmured. Polly snorted with laughter and Piper tried to shush her by waving her arm. Alex jolted awake, startled and combative..she pushed Piper down and covered her with her body while lashing out. Polly leaned back and Alex missed.

"Woah there, Alex it is me Polly!" She said as she moved back. Her wife's elbow was in her throat and Piper wasn't sure she could speak. She reached up with her hand and stroked her face as best she could. Alex blinked and looked down then immediately she threw herself backwards so hard she nearly fell off the bed.

"Polly...fuck...Piper..oh please please did I hurt you," Alex cried out as she rocked back and forth towards Piper. She swallowed and winced but smiled as she did it. She didn't want to speak and the sound of her voice upset Alex. So she laughed some and reached out to take her hand with one hand and cover her up with the next.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you awake. Piper made me laugh hard when she realized you used her brother's jack of lube last night," Polly explained in a rushed tone.

"Yeah, sorry baby...I swatted at her and it scared you. I'm fine..." Piper said and she almost made it without sounding like her throat was sore. Alex winced again and reached out to stroke her throat. "No worries Love, I'll just tell everyone we tried choking and Polly interrupted." Polly made the funniest noise. It made Alex laugh despite the road to Guilt Hell she was trying to run down. Piper kissed her and pulled her close.

"I'm fine...and I can't believe you used that lube," Piper said and then she reached up and pinched Alex's nipple hard through the blanket. Alex winced and giggled like a little girl. Piper felt a flush all over her body and brought her other hand up to capture her face.

"OOUcch..okay, sorry Pipes, it was the um heat of the moment and you KNOW we had to have lube," Alex said with a look that told Piper she was going to tell exactly WHY they had to have it if she didn't let go of her nipple.

Piper debated. "Alright, I relent." She let go of her nipple but kissed her soundly.

"Gross you two are too demonstrative with each other while naked, by the way," Polly snarked but she plopped down in the plush recliner with her feet dangling over the side to stare at the unabashedly.

"Get your eyes off my woman's ass Pol, really...you're such a bum looker!" Piper threw a pillow at her and used the splat of the pillow against her face to cover her dive for the pile of clothes at the foot of the bed. As soon as she moved she actually groaned with pain from her soreness.

"You're perfectly okay with her seeing your ass though, " Alex observed from the comfort of the pillows. She had her glasses on now and her eyes were on Piper.

"Oh please, I've seen all of her so many times that shit ain't new. We roomed together one semester...lived together a few times and we have both put the other to bed drunk many many times," Polly replied. Piper pulled on one of Cal's NYU sweatshirts from the closet. It was huge and went almost to her knees.

She turned and looked over her shoulder at Alex , "Better?" Alex's expression turned sultry and she pushed her glasses up on her nose. Piper knew she was going to crook her finger at her. Piper knew she'd be beckoned to that bed. She closed her eyes and turned around. She picked up Alex's T shirt and threw it at her. It landed on her crooked finger.

"We've got company and I want to make you breakfast. I take it you're here to pick Mom up for that charity Fashion event?" Piper observed. She remembered her mother mentioning it. She didn't want to attend because Rebecca Kanem was one of the designers. She looked at Alex and saw her put it together.

"Yeah, she said you were going to go but had to move your New Orleans trip up...then she told me to come upstairs and check on you. She didn't tell me Alex was up here." Polly observed. Piper found her panties but wanted some clean ones. She moved to the dresser where she kept their clothing. She found some fresh undies for the both of them and even tossed Alex a pair of jeans.

Alex snorted as she got dressed, "I always said I shoulda been a cat burglar." Piper laughed so hard she snorted. She remembered that day..her dad's birthday so long ago. She said she was the invisible woman. Piper had kissed her for being so great about being left out of so much of Piper's life. Now, Piper couldn't imagine her family without Alex.

"What, why is that so funny?" Polly asked. She was clearly confused and she did not like not knowing something that made Piper laugh so hard. Piper felt bad for her instantly and walked over to her. She still had all her clothes in her hand but she fell to her knees and gave her a kiss on her head. She batted at her saying she had "lesbo morning breath". Piper just started to tickle her belly and lean over. They were laughing and she looked over to Alex to observe the strangest expression. She stopped and Polly squirmed to sit up in the chair so she could better defend herself.

"What are you thinking?" She asked her softly. Alex shrugged and Piper moved forward towards her more. She was still on her knees but she insisted. "No, tell me. What are you thinking?"

"Sometimes you forget that I haven't ever seen you with another woman. I mean...Crazy eyes doesn't count...and I saw one hug from Eva, but with Polly you are like a teenage girl with a girl crush. You two mesh like..." Alex waved her hand.

"Like we do? Not all the way. I understand though...you're like that with Nicky," Piper explained. She wasn't defensive but she could tell they were still ..somehow fighting underneath it all.

"Not like you two...don't get me wrong, I love it. Polly and I are good...but sometimes it hits me," Alex answered in a soft voice. Piper started to speak but Polly stopped her with her hand on her shoulder. She looked back at her friend to see her slip off the couch and snuggle beside her.

"Used to drive Pete nuts...still does. We can't change it but we can share the love," Polly said in a manner that completely threw Piper. Polly reached up and held out her hand. Alex wasn't much for group hugs or snuggles. She puffed up a bit and winked her charming eye at her but politely declined. Polly ignored her and pulled her down by her jean buckle strap.

"Hey...ommf" was all Piper heard as her tall girlfriend fell on the floor before them. She lowered her head and kissed her upside down. It was weird and made her laugh. They'd had so much stress...so much anger that it was really fun to just be with Polly. She was missing her best friend and didn't even know it.

"Declining isn't an option SC. Look, Piper and I made out once in College...we were drunk and I was trying to impress a certain soccer player. He turned out to be a lousy lay but I did learn something that night," Polly said sagely.

"She learned that kissing girls was soft and sweet but did nothing for her honey pot. Those were her exact words to me over breakfast the next day. I spit my corn flakes all over the floor." Piper explained to Alex as she dangled her head over her still and let her hair tickle her neck.

Alex laughed. " I know you're straight, it isn't like that. Piper knows I'm not going to cheat on her with Becca but seeing me hug her set her off anyway. I think I understand that more and more." Piper felt her stomach drop when she brought it up. She didn't like to share her anger issues with Polly. She tried to keep that part of herself completely out of her relationship with her. Polly wasn't a violent person at all.

"You're lucky she didn't walk over and smack your face. That woman has it in for your marriage. There is NO reason on the planet you should ever hug her, do you understand Super Cunt?" Polly exploded as she spoke, leaning over Alex now, tossing Piper's hair out of the way so Alex could see her expression.

Her wife held up her hands as if to say "I surrender". Piper looked at Polly and smiled at her. Maybe Polly knew her temper and was okay with it. Polly just looked up at her and said, "I got your back...but I can't really fight the bitch right now, you see...I'm pregnant." Piper squealed and fell over top of Alex and hugged Polly. She then moved back and put her hand on her stomach lest her hug hurt the baby. Alex batted her way free of their bodies and adjusted her glasses.

"Congratulations! I guess my tips to Pete really worked," Alex smirked as she spoke and Polly just stuck her tongue out. Piper wanted to know everything and started to pepper her with questions. She was only 8 weeks along but she couldn't wait anymore to tell her. They had decided to try before Christmas but didn't expect it to happen so soon.

"I read where we will have lots of kids this year. It seems New Yorkers all like to spend time in bed on cold nights and while snowed in," Alex told her. Polly laughed.

"Ha, Pete read the same thing. I think it is time. I can still take off work for a couple of years, Finn will be in school and I can go back to work once he or she is potty trained." Polly said it like it was all thought out but Piper could tell she was worried about handling the pregnancy again. Polly didn't enjoy being pregnant. Piper put her hand on her tummy again and smiled.

"If it's a girl, are you going to do it?" Piper asked with bright eyes as she quickly got dressed. Polly grinned back.

"Yeah...if it is a girl, I'll call her Lily Elizabeth," Polly answered. Piper hooted out loud and Alex looked at her to explain. "Piper saved my ass once from getting kicked out of college. It could have got her in trouble but she did it anyway...and I promised her she could name my first girl baby."

"It started at "I'll name my kid after you" and was negotiated down to her first female kid. I was so disappointed at first that Finn was a boy but now I can't imagine life without him. Is he with Pete?" Piper asked.

"Nope, he is with Pete's parents this weekend. They took him to the Zoo and to see a children's show," Polly said. Pete's parents moved to New York before the Holidays and Polly has really enjoyed the extra help. Piper pulled on some clothes and helped Polly up. She straightened her clothing.

"Are you going to tell Mom?" Piper asked. Polly shook her head no.

"We're going to wait to tell parents and grandparents until after the first trimester. So mums the word you too..especially around Finn, he'll blab in a second!" Polly mumbled as they walked downstairs. Piper felt that they could have talked more about Alex's feelings concerning Polly...but this was the reality of their lives. Alex put her hands on Piper's shoulders as they walked down the steps. Her body was sore but it felt good to be reminded of their passion. Her mom was surprised to see her but her Dad just smiled. Alex walked over and spoke to him in a quiet tone while Piper washed her hands.

"I'm going to make omelets mom, do we have everything?" Piper asked as she moved her eyes from her Dad.

"Yes, that lovely girl Raven had my regular order filled at the grocery. That nice boy Thomas delivered it. Oh! Speaking of the help, Steve came by to see us before you came over last night. I'd told you but you were upset. I see things are better now?" Her mom asked in a way that was nosey and rude at the same time. Piper didn't know where to start in that statement.

"Mom...Steve isn't the help, he's a professor...and yes we're working on it. She came over last night and we worked on it, so..let it drop," Piper warned. Her mother was getting better at reading Piper's none to subtle signs.

"Okay, well he wanted to see how your dad was doing and to tell us that he was moving to Alaska," she informed Piper as she put on her ear rings. Polly took her cue and fetched her coat.

"Oh darn, so sad to hear that he is leaving. We'll send him a basket," Alex replied with thinly veiled sarcasm dripping from her lips. Her father laughed out right and Piper just looked over at her shocked. She had been rather nice to him when they last saw him.

"Oh well that is good, I'm surprised he didn't call and tell me himself. What about his Uncle?" Piper asked her mom so she'd be distracted from trying to figure out the meaning of Alex's words.

"Oh that is the other thing, he came over to tell us he passed away last week. We hadn't heard at thing but Steve said it was how he wanted it. Just the family was there and he was cremated. He asked if he could put some of his ashes on the roses but your Dad told him he'd have to ask you and Cal."Her mother was casual about Owen but she knew how close Steve was to his uncle. It reminded her of Larry. She felt for both of them and thanked the Universe again for more time with her dad.

"I'll call him and tell him it's fine later...if that is okay dear?" Piper asked Alex. She walked up to her and put her arm around her waist. Alex smiled big and nodded.

"I know you liked the old guy, Pipes. I'm sorry." Polly said. Piper had spent more time with her Grandmother than anyone. Owen had always been around.

"Thanks Pol. You two better get going. Dad, you want something? I have egg whites I'm sure," Piper said for her mother's benefit. He declined and said he wanted to go for a walk and play some chess with Arthur Penn down at the park. They all said their goodbyes. Alex sat down at the bar and watched her wife cook. Piper poured her some coffee and started making her omelets.

"Are you going to tell them you aren't going to New Orleans until Thursday...if then?" Alex asked casually after she sipped her coffee. Piper shrugged.

"I think I'll play hooky from my life a bit longer and spend all my free time fucking my wife. We're newlyweds ya know," Piper popped a black olive in her mouth before she started to chop them for Alex's favorite omelet.

"I like that idea as well...but easy on my ass next time. It makes it hard to sit!" Alex said as she moved on the stool. Piper laughed and went to the cabinet. She got them both some advil out.

"We'll take these after breakfast...then a hot bath and I'll put some salve on those scratches. I love that you feel me like I feel you though. I guess...that was what we needed. It was hard and I was worried. You don't think it's fucked up we settle our stuff with sex sometimes do ya?" Piper asked this with fear in her voice. She was worried it was a sign they weren't strong or real.

"No, I think it means we're married...maybe we've always been married...sometimes the only way we let ourselves WORK is in the bedroom. It's a nice reminder. You know you're mine now right?" Alex answered her with a deep rich voice.

Piper bit her lip and focused on chopping before she cut off her finger. "Ditto kiddo...I feel you all over. Now shut up before I forget how my hands work when not inside you and fuck up breakfast," Piper mumbled. Alex just laughed and leaned back. Piper was satisfied though when she saw her wince in pain.

***Wow, I love the reviews. The first Guest review of last chapter that spoke about my story being the best was so kind that I nearly started to cry. I can't wait for Season 2 but I admit I'm gonna miss my girls and how I've imagined them to be. I hope you all read and reread them over again for as long as you find something interesting to glean from the Covers Trilogy. Thank you to each of you that review regularly...thank you thank you thank you! Please review more! Peace, Fae***