Chapter 7

Piper - Pol, I won't be in today, I am feeling like crap. Will you manage? x

Polly – I will have too won't I?

Piper - Don't be like that Pol. I will come in if you need me.

Polly – Honestly Pipes don't worry about it. Larry called me last night and told me what happened, I understand. x

Piper stared at the words on the little phone screen; she could not help but wonder why Larry had called Polly after all she was her friend not his! Her fingers danced over the virtual keyboard typing out an inquiring message, Piper wanted to dig; she wanted to find out why Polly had been talking to Larry but she hesitated. Her finger hovered over the send button as her rationality kicked in. With a small sigh she deleted the message and opted for a safe response.

Piper – Thanks Pol. Talk soon. X

Shoving her phone into the pocket of the loaned sweatpants Piper left the bedroom and headed into the main area of Alex's small apartment.

She quickly found herself in the lounge area and she swiftly started taking in every minute detail she could, the dying house plants, the small TV that was covered in dust and a coffee table that sat in the middle of the floor space that had a pile of books upon it. Intrigued by the stack of books Piper moved closer. Some clearly had not been read while others had cracked spines and colourful post-it notes sticking out from between their pages. That was when Piper noticed a familiar book, the dark image of a chain linked fence made an unappealing cover and it seemed in sharp contrast to the orange writing stating the title of the book 'Two Prisoners, One Sentence'.

Piper could not help but smile at the memory of the pain staking evening with Larry as he attempted to pick the image for the cover of his book. More importantly she could remember the frustration of how he would ask for her opinion in one sentence and then dismiss it in the next. They had ended up having a row that seemed to last over the space of a week and resulted in them agreeing to disagree and to never bring the topic up again.

Idly Piper flicked through the pages of Larry's book, stopping at regular intervals to read Alex's hand written notes and she could not help but smile at the choice of Alex's words.

'Ignorant assumption combined with poor execution by the Author.'

'Offensive, stereotypical view.'

'Unlikable character, poorly written'

Piper remembered how only days before these very words had caused her such offence that she allowed her Chapman temper to takeover. But now as she stood in clothes that smelt like Alex, the boot seemed to be on the other foot and her loyalty's appeared to have shifted. That was until she reached the acknowledgements at the back of the book; Piper had never read them before and as her blue eyes skimmed over the words she could her Larry's voice in her head.

'And to my Piper who has supported me throughout this process. She has put up with my mood swings listened to my anxieties and talked me out of giving up on my dreams. I owe everything to you my love, thank you.'

Piper snapped the book shut. She had been broadsided by a wave of emotions that was causing her world to rock substantially. All of a sudden the reality of the past few days sunk in and there was only one question her conscience was asking. Had she been too hasty in abandoning Larry?

Yes he was an idiot but he was her idiot who clearly loved her. Larry was like a pair of old shoes, they may not be the best looking and you know they have cracks in the sole that lets water soak through to your socks but they are comfortable, familiar. The old shoes may not make you as instantly happy as a new pair would but you could walk till the end of time in them without getting a blister. A new pair of shoes could be fine at first but as soon as the shine has gone they could start rubbing and cause you pain. Was the risk worth it?

"I have fresh coffee." The sound of Alex's voice penetrated her world and as Piper turned to look at the tall, dark haired woman she felt her heart flutter and her breath caught it her throat.

Piper wanted the new shoes!

She quickly dropped the book back down on the table, all the while keeping her gaze fixed upon Alex. "Thank you." She mumbled already inhaling the scent of the coffee, allowing it to flow through her sinuses clearing a bit of the hazy fog of her hangover.

Following Alex's lead Piper sat down on the sofa, tucking her legs in underneath her and wrapping hers hands around the mug of coffee. She studied Alex who sat before her; the still wet hair from her shower, her black zip hoodie was undone showing the white cotton tank top that was underneath. This causal form of Alex was very unlike the formal one she had seen previously, and although she may have been wearing a pair of worn out black skinny jeans that had holes in (that were not there for fashion reasons) to Piper she was just as striking and tempting.

Feeling the warmth in her cheeks spread Piper turned away from Alex and started to look around the apartment once more. Everything was so new, she could not remember coming in the night before and with every book or trinket that sat on a shelf Piper felt like she learnt a bit more about the mysterious Alex Vause.

"What's up? You look like you are trying to solve a ridiculous difficult math problem."

Piper could not help but smile at Alex's comment, was she really that easy to read? Her Father always told her she had a rubbish poker face but it was something she never had to worry about with Larry…he was just oblivious to everything. Turning back to Alex Piper locked her gaze with those stunning green eyes that implored her to tell the truth.

"I am trying to work out how someone like you could end up in prison."

This statement seemed to peak Alex's interest, a small smile tugged on her lips as her left eyebrow arched in curiosity.

"You don't fucking know me." Alex jeered, although she swore there was no malice in her words. "We all make decisions in life and even the smartest people can make the wrong one. Just the consequences of those bad decisions can sometimes leave you on the wrong side of the law."

Piper was hypnotised by this woman, with every word she spoke, every raised eyebrow and exaggerated hand movement just seemed to pull her in further.

"Then tell me what happened?"

"I fell in with the wrong crowd." Alex put her still full coffee mug down on the table. "I worked for an internal drug cartel. I got to see the world whilst earning a lot of money and I was good at it too which was a bonus. Anyway to cut a long story of debauchery and excess short, everything was going great until I didn't have anyone to take a suitcase to Belgium for me meaning I had to do it. Things just didn't go right from the off, the case didn't arrive on time and when it did I got caught in customs with a suitcase containing $50,000."

Piper's mouth fell open at the amount of money that she had been in possession of; maybe she had lived a sheltered life. Alex seemed to find her audiences reaction amusing and with a small smile she continued her tale.

"So I got arrested and ended up bringing a lot of the drug cartel down with me. In the end I was left with two options, go to prison or get killed by a vengeful drug lord. It was only four months into my prison stay that I knew I had made the wrong choice!"

Alex laughed at her own joke as she reached over and picked up her drink now that her story was over. Piper felt like a section of Alex's jigsaw puzzle had been filled in, she now understood a bit better the woman who sat before her.

"Do you regret any of it?" Piper asked tentatively, not knowing the protocols when it came to crime and punishment. She wondered if it was like Fight Club, and rule number one about Prison was that you didn't talk about Prison.

"I have learnt to try and live my life without regret; it weighs you down after a while and stops you from living." Piper could see the honesty in Alex's eyes and she could not help but wonder what had happened for Alex to form this opinion as Piper could not help but think it was not all prison.

Piper could not imagine what it would be liked to live with no regrets, she had lived a 'boring' life in comparison with this being the most rebellious thing she had done. Had she really lived at all?

"What about you Pipes? Do you regret anything?"

Piper paused before answering; a thousand home movies seemed to play through her head as she thought about what she regretted. But there was one memory that kept coming back to her and it was only from a few days ago.

"I regret dragging the dying relationship between Larry and myself out." Piper smiled softly at Alex before continuing. "I regret not meeting you sooner."

Alex dropped her head in modesty, letting her black hair shield her blushing face. She had felt the connection between the two of them but with Larry in the way she felt an obligation to hold back on her feelings, even if last night's drunken shenanigans proved otherwise.

"You don't regret ending things with him then?" Alex asked fishing for an answer that would give her the green light to pursue Piper as her previous words had given her hope that maybe these feelings were not unrequited.

Piper hesitated; she tried to filter out all the mess of conflicting words that were bouncing around in her head.

"No." Piper looked down at her hand and the now bare finger where her engagement ring had been, she didn't think there was anything else that was worthwhile saying.

Alex sensed this change in mood and thought it best not to push anymore. Piper was allowed to hurt and mourn the end of a relationship even if there was no love left within. Alex understood that more then she would care to admit.

Jumping up off the sofa Alex turned to face Piper and held out her hand. She knew she needed to ty and lighten the mood and stop Piper from thinking about Larry.

"Come on, lets go make a mess in the kitchen while making breakfast."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The day had passed in a lazy blur, with every cup of coffee and pint of water that Piper drank she felt the groggy hangover from the night before slowly fade away. They sat on the sofa together; closer then 'normal' friends would but far enough apart to avoid the temptation of any inappropriate touching. They had a tartan blanket covering their legs and Alex was idly using the remote control to flick through the channels on the old TV. Despite having hundreds of channels she could find nothing to watch.

"Al wait, I like that show." Piper tried to playfully reach out and snatch the remote control from Alex's hands. She had almost got her finger tips to it before Alex light-heartedly moved it away out of her reach. With a playful sideways glance Alex continued to channel hop, however Piper was not going to leave it at just one attempt, so with a bit more force and a bit more determination she leaned across Alex and tried again to grab the remote.

This time she managed to wrap her fingers around it, causing Alex to cry out in protest. Alex then tried to shake Piper off it, but like a bucking bronco ride Piper was not letting go. She was now leaning fully across Alex but that didn't last for long as the dark haired woman quickly pushed Piper off her and onto her back on the sofa. With a gleeful smile Alex slowly prowled her way up Pipers body, straddling her as eventually their faces where opposite one another.

"I am not gay Alex." Piper blurted out, not fully believing the words herself as she felt the warmth of Alex's breath upon her.

"I don't care what label you want to put on yourself Piper." Alex's nose brushed passed Pipers as their lips hung dangerously close to one another's. "All I want is you."

Alex closed the short distance between them, devouring Piper in a passion fuelled kiss. She felt Piper respond immediately, her hands reaching around her body, pulling her in closer. Their bodies moved in rhythm as their kiss deepened. Pipers hands had started to travel over Alex's body; underneath her tank top so that she could feel Alex's warm, soft skin. Everything about this felt right, there was no awkwardness, no beginners jitters with teeth clumsy clashing together, it was like they had been doing this all their lives.

Time seemed to lose all meaning as they got lost in one another. They were now no longer just kissing; they were exploring each other's bodies, tracing every raise and crevice with their hands or lips. Alex no longer pinned Piper to the sofa, they were sat up with Piper now straddling Alex. Slowly they started to shed their clothes allowing one another free range on their bodies.

That was when the poor quality, muffled sound of Taylor Swifts 'I knew you were Trouble' sounded out in the apartment causing the couple to momentarily pause. Alex seemed perplexed at the noise however Piper knew the cause. "Shit" she exhaled in annoyance "It's my phone."

"Taylor Swift, really?" Alex was rosy cheeked and her dark hair a ruffled mess but the mischievous smile that danced across her lips diverted Pipers attention from the ringing phone back to the woman she was sitting astride.

"It's an in joke with friends." Piper explained as the song abruptly cut out as the phone call ended. "It's one of my nicknames."

"Why because you are white and have blonde hair, very imaginative" Alex raised a playful eyebrow as she watched the smile widen on Pipers face. Alex didn't allow any more time for Piper to protest before engulfing her once again with kisses. But this did not last long as once again Taylor Swift sounded out around the apartment.

"I best answer it." Piper tried to move away but Alex locked her arms around Pipers middle and made sure their lips found each other once more, she was not letting her go anywhere. Piper resisted only a little as her resolve crumbled and the phone was left unanswered once again.

The third time it went off Alex had had enough, it felt like every time she was getting going once more she was being blocked by that dam telephone. Unceremoniously she threw Piper off her and reached for where the sound was coming from (under the loaned tee she had given Piper) only to see who was calling.

The mood in the room changed instantly, Alex picked up the phone from the coffee and tossed it at Piper before standing up from the sofa and collected her discarded clothes. Alex did not look back at Piper and she only just about left the living area when she heard Piper answer the phone.

"Hi Larry."

-.-.-.-.-.-

The name that flashed up on the screen caused all feelings of warmth and happiness to instantly vanish. Piper could only watch helplessly as Alex stood up and left. She tried to find the words to bring Alex back but they got stuck in her now dry throat. Her temper flared as she swiped to accept the call, dreading hearing his voice.

"Hi Larry."

"Hey Pipes, are you okay?" Piper noticed the concern in his voice; typical Larry.

"Yeah I am fine, why?"

"Polly called and said you were unwell."

There it was again, that prickle of jealousy as she wondered why Polly and Larry were talking to each other when she was not around.

"I tried the landlines and you didn't answer and you weren't answering this one either, this was my third attempt."

"I was in the shower" Piper lied as she looked around for her clothes suddenly feeling very vulnerable in just her underwear. Her answer however seemed to pacify him and he dropped into a lazy drawl about his journey with his family to his aunts funeral. She would make the occasional agreeing noise so Larry knew she was still there but all the while she kept looking, waiting for Alex to come around the corner.

"Larry, I have to go I-I think I am going to be sick."

"Oh Pipes, do you want me to come home?"

"No!" she caught herself on how forceful that sounded and knew she needed to soften it a bit "I will be fine, you stay with your family."

"Okay Pipes, I will be home in three days. I love you."

Piper ended the call. The apartment fell into an eerie silence as she strained her ears to hear some trace of Alex, there was nothing. Slowly Piper stood up, picking up and putting on the sweat pants and t-shirt that had been removed in the heat of the moment. Alex was nowhere in sight so Piper knew she must be in her bedroom.

Giving the door a small knock she did not wait for an invitation before walking in, her gaze instantly drawn to the now dressed Alex lying on the bed. She was just staring at the ceiling, there was no emotion on her face and she did not even acknowledge Piper entering the room. Gingerly Piper sat down on the edge of the bed, her back facing Alex as she tried to find the right words to end the silence.

"I am sorry Al." The words were meek and not even Piper was convinced by them despite the sick feeling she felt in her stomach.

"You told me you had called things off."

Piper shifted uncomfortably on the bed, she still couldn't bring herself to look at Alex.

"I never actually said..." But Alex cut her off before she could finish.

"Fuck Piper!" Alex moved sharply off the bed, her left hand was lost in the thick black mess of her hair as she paced back and forth. "I should have seen this coming." Alex seemed to be muttering to herself as she continued to pace along the small visible strip of carpet. "You know what, I did see this coming. Rule number one: Don't ever fall in love with a straight girl!"

There was a silence that hung in the air, Piper had stood up from off the bed and was about to retort about how this had nothing to do with if she liked dick or not when the words Alex had used sunk in causing her to hesitate.

"Wait, what?! You love me?"

Alex looked as if she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar, her face flushed and her gaze dropped to the carpet.

"It's a figure of speech." She mumbled to the floor, desperately trying to back track.

Alex had not meant for anything like that to be said, she felt angry and in the heat of the moment that four letter word just fell out. Alex knew she didn't love Piper, heck she had known her for three days! But there was something about the blonde woman that had captivated her mind, body and soul. Alex had never been in love before, she thought she might have been with Sylvia but she had realised now that had just been longing. The longing for something special, that someone that would always be there for you...but Piper couldn't be that person, Alex knew that, besides she still had a fucking male fiancée.

"I don't love you Piper." Alex finally stated her voice was calm and slow as she tried to pick her words carefully to avoid any further miss communication. "But that's not to say that I don't like you."

Alex took a step closer to Piper but being wary not to get too closer.

"Alex, I never saw myself as a sexual person." Piper closed the space between them, her voice dropped into a low whisper. "But you pursued me and I liked it." Their faces were mere inches apart, the temptation built up once more and memories of less than half an hour before flooded over the two of them.

-.-.-.-.-

They woke up a tangled mess of limbs, exposed skin on skin in the warmth of each other's ecstasy. Alex rolled onto her back, opening her arms up allowing Piper to snuggle up close to her. As Alex tried in vain to regain control of her racing heart she could hear Piper's happy humming as she moved in closer.

"You are really bad at that." Piper laughed as she looked up at Alex through the mess of her hair. "Is it always that good?" With a laugh Alex brushed the hair out of Pipers eyes and smiled down upon her.

"Always." Alex pulled Piper closer, kissing her soft lips, but this time she felt like the kiss was a little one sided. Breaking off the kiss Alex looked down at Piper with a look of concern. Surely she could not be having doubts now. "What's wrong Pipes?"

"Nothing just-" She paused trying to find the right words. "Do you ever feel like something is just meant to be?"

Alex did not respond immediately, she thought carefully about what Piper was saying as she entwined her fingers with Pipers.

"You mean like Shakespeare's star crossed lovers?"

"Yeah, kind of. It's just, I can't help but feel we have done this all before."

"Oh so like in an alternative Universe we are still hooking up."

"Yes!" Piper propped herself up on her elbows to get a better look at Alex. "In some universe we met at school or college or even when you were in your drug cartel, maybe I was one of your mules."

"Then we would both be in prison!" Alex laughed along, enjoying seeing the light side of Piper once again.

"I think I would do well in Prison." Piper stated, trying not to be too affronted when Alex scoffed at her statement.

"You would have been eaten alive. But don't worry; I would have made you my prison wife."

Piper simply laughed before resting her head down again on Alex's bare chest letting herself raise and fall with every breath of Alex's.

"I think I would enjoy being your prison wife."

A/N: I think I will leave it there! I was surprised how easy this chapter came together after I finally sat down to write it. The points of view did jump around a lot so I apologise for that but it's just how the words appeared on the screen.

Thank you to everyone who have followed, favorited and reviewed it means the world to me. I will try and get another update to you in early March, it will depend on how much real life takes over but in the meantime enjoy and thank you again for reading.