A/N: Hi! What a wonderful response! Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement. I have come to a dilemma when it comes to possible future content of this story. At the moment I have an outline plan of where this story is going and how it will get there, but generally I just write each chapter with whatever comes to mind try to keep within my "plot" guide (which is actually just a little list on the "notes" application on my phone, which keeps getting re-drafted anyway). The issue is that I have been trying to work out whether to include or not include "sexual content" which of course would see the rating change to M. I guess what I am asking is for some indication from you the readers as to whether this is something you want to see/read or not. So please let me know :) As for now, Chapter 10.

Chapter 10 - How it feels to break a heart.

Rounding the corner of the dairy isle in the supermarket, Alex cursed under her breath, "shit!"

Nikki dropped a block of cheese into the cart whilst Alex darted out of sight. The wild haired woman looked around, and then saw the familiar red haired woman Alex was keen to avoid.

"Don't you dare leave me to be interrogated by her!" Nikki hissed.

Alex craned her neck around the corner to look at Nikki, "it's better you than me!"

Nikki shook her head. She hated dealing with other people's bullshit. She pushed the cart forward, lingering for longer than necessary as she picked up a carton of milk, hoping to put some distance between her and red haired woman who was slowly moving further down the isle. Just as the woman made a turn, she paused, left her cart and walked back, instantly spotting and recognising Nikki.

"Nichols, isn't it? Alex's friend?"

"That's me," Nikki said, looking over her shoulder for Alex. The dark haired woman was nowhere to be seen.

"How is she?" asked Jules, not even looking at Nikki, but rather looking around for Alex.

"She's good.. and I'm fine too, thanks for asking."

The red haired woman ignored the comment, "is she around?"

Suddenly Alex appeared, she held tub of yogurt in her hand as she approached the cart.

"Oh!" Alex exclaimed, trying to seem surprised, "Jules! Hey!"

Jules turned her attention from Nikki and watched as Alex placed the yogurt in the cart.

"How's things?" Alex asked with a friendly smile, hoping to keep things pleasant. She had ignored every phone call and text message from the woman since they'd bumped into each other on Saturday night. A lot had happened in a short space of time, she'd had two dates with Piper, she hadn't even thought of a way to respond to a woman who had clearly mistaken their relations for a relationship.

"You haven't returned any of my messages."

"Do we have to do this here?" Alex asked, hoping that she could avoid the pending conversation.

"Yes."

"Well," Nikki interrupted, "as this is sufficiently awkward, I'm just gonna head over here," and headed back down the isle, turning the corner and out of sight.

"Well?" The red head looked at Alex for an answer.

"I've just been, you know.."

"No, I don't know.. we had an arrangement, Alex."

"Yes," Alex spoke sternly, she had wanted to avoid a scene but Jules seemed intent on causing one, "We had an arrangement. Not a relationship. An arrangement."

"Call it what you want," Jules waved her hand dismissively, "but you're backing out on your end of the deal."

"My end of the deal?!" Alex stepped towards the woman, she lowered her voice "if I don't want to fuck you, I don't have to!"

"When you called me up for a bootycall, I came running," the red haired woman whispered back.

"That's up to you, isn't it?"

"So you just used me for sex then, is that it?" Jules yelled as she angrily threw her hands into the air.

Alex rolled her eyes, she was beginning to lose her patience, "that is kind of the point of a fuck buddy."

"A fuck buddy? Really Alex? What is this, college?!"

"I specifically remember telling you," Alex spoke slowly, trying to remain calm, "that I wasn't interested in a relationship, that I didn't want any drama. Just sex."

"Just sex?" the infuriated woman repeated, "Just sex?! What about what I wanted? I thought that was something that you were just saying, I thought you would change your mind.. I thought that we had something special."

"You thought," Alex spat, "you."

"Has this got something to do with the girl in the bar the other night? I've seen you together, you know. I thought you didn't do relationships?" It wasn't a question, it was an accusation.

"You saw us toge- how?!"

"I came by Thursday night, I thought we could talk or something.. and just as I pulled up outside your apartment, I saw you both. All over each other, kissing and holding hands and giggling like two school girls.."

Alex thought back to Thursday, Piper had dropped her off home at about 10pm. Jules must have seen them kissing goodbye.

"Ok, look.. Piper is my ex-" Alex wasn't ready to answer any questions about what she and Piper were, she didn't know if they were anything.. yet.

"Are you in love with her?" Jules interrupted.

"What?" She couldn't quite believe they were having this conversation.

"Are you in love with her?"

"What does that even matter, this isn't about me and Piper, this is about me and you."

"Oh my god, you ARE!" The red haired woman gave a venomous laugh.

Alex took a deep breath and flexed her hands, trying to let go of her feelings of aggravation. "Look," she began, "I'm sorry if you thought that something more was going to happen between us, I'm sorry if I hurt you in any way, believe me, it wasn't intentional, but I'm not interested in having a relationship with you."

Jules shook her head, "Ok, spare me the apology speech, its all bullshit. You are bullshit."

Alex raised an eyebrow, she wasn't sure what else to say, she was done.

"You know what, whatever.. I'm better than this!" the red haired woman stalked off, "I'm better than some sketchy bitch who just.. just uses people and wipes them away like a shit stain on the bottom of her shoe."

Alex watched as the woman stormed past her cart of food and left it stranded in the isle. An unofficial audience had gathered of shoppers facing the shelves, pretending to read food labels as they earwigged the dramatic exchange.

"Nikki, it's safe to come out now," Alex called, knowing Nikki would have been down the next isle trying to listen in without being seen.

Sure enough her wild haired friend appeared moments later, a smirk across her face. "Bitch, you got TOLD!" She laughed.

As they loaded the bags of groceries into the back of Nikki's car, Alex decided she wanted to see Piper. It was Sunday though and Piper was working today. She checked the time, it was 3.30pm. The store closed at 4.00pm.

"Nichols, do you mind dropping by work before going home?"

"Why?" Nikki raised an eyebrow. She knew why, but she wanted to hear Alex say it.

"There's just.. something I need to do."

"By do, do you mean Piper?"

"Maybe."

"Does this mean you're leaving me to take all the groceries in AND put them away?" Nikki said, unimpressed.

"One word," Alex said with a smirk, "Monopoly."

"You should have been a stain on the bed sheets, do you know that?"

Alex laughed, "is that a yes?"

"Yes," her friend said, defeated.

"Thanks," Alex said over her shoulder, walking back towards the store, "I'll be just a minute."

She returned five minutes later with a bouquet of flowers in pinks and whites.

"Flowers?!" Nikki had never seen Alex with flowers, and she had never expected her to buy anyone flowers. She was a softie at heart, that much Nikki did know, but a romantic?

Alex shrugged, "too much?"

"What are they for?" Nikki asked, was it Piper's birthday?

"Nothing," Alex placed them down gently on the back seat.

"You bought your ex-girlfriend who broke your heart when she left you in Paris, and then came back into your life like what, two weeks ago, Flowers?" She looked at her best friend in disbelief. She wasn't one to pass judgement usually, and she preferred staying out of other people's business, but she was concerned that maybe Alex was getting herself too involved too soon.

"So you think they're too much?" Alex asked, ignoring most of what Nikki had said. Of course, Alex agreed, and she would probably say the same thing to somebody in her situation, but it was Piper, and she wasn't going to lose her a second time. If that meant she had some wooing to do, then she would damn well do it.

"It doesn't matter what I think," Nikki said as she started the engine, "but for what it's worth, I don't think she ever got over you either."

Alex thought about this as they drove to the book store. Nikki pulled up at the delivery bay at the back of the store, hoping to avoid the busier street to the front. Alex carefully picked up the flowers and made her way around the building, it was now 4pm, and Piper would be leaving at any minute. Pausing at the corner, Alex squinted as she saw a familiar dark haired man lingering by the entrance. Larry. Fuck.

She jumped backwards, and watched him as he waited for Piper. Disappointment swelled in her chest, she gritted her teeth together as she looked at the beautiful flowers, she half felt like throwing them away. How long would she have to wait until that complication, as she preferred to think of Larry, was out of the way? She hated that she had to share Piper with someone else. Alex gradually craned her neck around the corner and watched the man, wondering about their relationship. Was Piper happy with this man? If she was, then she wouldn't be sneaking around with her, surely? Alex kept a watch, she wasn't sure why, perhaps just morbid curiosity. She watched as Piper appeared with a look of surprise upon seeing the dark haired man, he kissed her as they embraced. Alex frowned and looked down at the concrete beneath her feet as she felt a coldness pool in the pit of her stomach, jealousy rearing its ugly head. Her grip tightened around the flowers as she watched the pair of them disappear hand in hand towards the car. She would have to give the flowers to Piper tomorrow, she decided. Feeling disheartened, Alex began the short walk home as a leisurely pace. Jealousy was a relatively new feeling, she'd never cared about anyone else enough to feel this way.

As Piper made her way to the front of the store she thought about the evening ahead. She decided that she would curl up with a good book, lose herself in a world she didn't exist within. There was so much going on in her life right now that she needed a night to just take a breather from it, she had some important decisions to deal with, some big changes to make. Little over six weeks ago she had moved from New York to LA, it had been exactly what she needed to break away from her suffocating family. She and Larry had been so excited about their new life together, he had even started talking about their future. She felt settled with Larry, comfortable. And now?

"Piper!" She heard him before she saw him. She looked up to see those kind brown eyes and greeting smile. She couldn't help but smile back at him.

Larry moved towards her and planted a kiss on her lips, bringing his arms around her in a tight hug. Piper laughed at him.

"I'm taking you out for dinner," he told her, "I feel like we haven't spent any time together recently, you know?"

Piper nodded, it was true. She had purposely made less time for Larry, and more time for Alex.

"You're so sweet," she cupped his cheek with her hand, trying her best to hide her guilt.

"Come on, let's get you home first to freshen up," he held out his hand for her to take and they walked to his car.

When they were home, Piper checked her phone, disappointed to find that Alex had not yet messaged her today. She placed the phone screen down, just in case, and took a long hot shower, trying to get herself in the mood for tonight. Larry had told her to wear something a little more formal. She didn't know what the occasion was, but figured that now they had more money, Larry wanted to enjoy going out more. Piper changed into her favourite dress, a sleeveless coral coloured dress which stopped just above her knees. She slipped a thin white belt around her waist and started the hunt for a pair of appropriate shoes. Larry took her place in the mirror, and as she searched the bottom of her wardrobe, he attempted his tie. Piper watched as he struggled, and moved in to help him. As she threaded the material through the knot and pulled it, straightening out his collar, she smiled at him.

"What would I do without you Piper?" Larry asked. His question made Piper feel sad. She hadn't yet made any decisions, but she knew deep in her heart that a decision had already been made, she just hadn't thought it through yet. Piper smiled at him weakly, feeling as though she might cry. She knew that once it was over, it was over, Larry would gone. He had come to be such an important part of her life, and soon he wouldn't be part of it at all.

As they parked up, Piper looked out of the window at the small Italian restaurant where a queue was forming outside. She followed as Larry bypassed the queue and pushed open the door, where he then spoke quietly to the Maitre'D who checked the reservations list and showed them to their table. Once seated, they were passed the a la carte menu and a wine menu. Piper looked at the limited choice on the menu, which she knew meant that the food was freshly cooked, and expensive. She felt a little bad that Larry had gone to so much effort for them to spend some time together when she had been avoiding him in favour of Alex. She thanked him before the waiter came to take their order. She opted for the seafood dish while Larry chose the steak. The waiter offered Piper to try some of their house wine. She always found this bit awkward, as though she was being judged for her wine tasting skills. She informed the waiter that the wine was good, and continued to pour it into both of their glasses before placing it in a bucket of ice.

When the waiter had left, Piper noticed Larry looking at her across the candle lit table with a look of love in his eyes. She took a large mouthful of her wine. She felt ashamed. Here, in front of her, with those big brown eyes, was a man who even on his worst days, was always kind. He had his bad points like everybody else, but he was her Larry, he was a gentle and caring man. Perhaps a little bit predictable, but always there when she needed him to be. Piper took another large drink.

"How's the wine?" Larry asked, teasingly.

She looked at the half emptied glass in her hand which had been full only a minute ago. "Sorry," she apologised, "I've had a busy day."

Larry nodded with understanding, "I miss weekends with you."

"I know," she answered.

Thankfully, the waiter arrived with their starters, so she didn't have to say anything that she didn't mean. Her affair with Alex had only started a week ago, and she was already tired of lying to him.

"How's work?" she asked, hoping the change of topic would distract him.

"It's great!" He beamed, "Filming starts soon, it will be long days, but so exciting!"

"Why do you need to be there during filming?" Piper asked, genuinely interested.

"Oh, there needs to be a team of writers on set to re-write scenes or lines if they don't go down well with the audience, and obviously the longer they're not filming a scene because it doesn't work, the more money they're losing, so they need writers on hand to re-work the script."

Piper took another drink and as soon as she had set the empty glass down on the table, a waiter arrived and topped the glass with the cooling bottle of wine.

"Thank you," Piper was impressed with this restaurant. Larry, like Alex, didn't usually like fancy places.

"Piper?" Larry shifted in his seat, "if this show does well, I could be making serious money! And then we can move to a bigger place and you won't have to work at the coffee shop, and maybe we could think about starting a family?"

Piper swallowed the piece of lettuce she had just picked up with her fork, and quickly washed it down with another large gulp of wine. A family?!

"Kids?" She asked Larry.

"Yeah, I know we had that pregnancy scare last year and I said I didn't want them yet, but I'm not talking about right away.."

Piper was no longer listening. She knew she wasn't going to have children with Larry, but he didn't.

"Would you excuse me?" she asked, and headed for the bathroom.

Piper locked herself into a cubicle as she checked her phone again. Still she had no word from Alex. She contemplated calling, dialled her number and then shook her head. Maybe Alex was busy. She had a life outside of their little affair. Piper closed her eyes tightly. She needed to deal with this situation soon, she couldn't keep letting Larry believe they had a future together when they didn't. He deserved better than that. He deserved somebody who wanted that with him, somebody who wanted him and only him. She left the cubicle and looked up at the mirror, pausing, she stared at the woman looking back at her. Same wavy blonde hair, same blue eyes, same shade of tanned skin, yet not a person she recognised. This wasn't Piper. She wasn't a coward. She didn't sneak around behind people's backs. This wasn't how she wanted to start a new relationship with Alex. It was then that she realised she shouldn't have been thinking about how this was the wrong way for starting the next chapter in her life, but how this was the wrong way to end the current one. She thought about Larry, waiting for her to return, oblivious to the reality which would soon turn his world upside-down. She remembered how it felt to break Alex's heart as she walked away from her, and now she would do the same to Larry. This wasn't Larry's fault. It wasn't anybody's fault. She was unexplainably drawn to Alex, it felt inevitable to her.

She would talk to Alex tomorrow and then she would talk to Larry. For tonight, she would enjoy spending time with the man she knew would soon be just a memory. She left the bathroom, feeling a little shaky, and took her seat opposite her boyfriend.

"Is everything ok?" He asked with concern.

"I'm fine," Piper lied, she wasn't fine. Just looking at Larry filled her with sadness.

"Good," he smiled.

Larry had noticed a change in his girlfriend, he assumed it was just the stress of the move. He felt a little guilty knowing that it was he who had uprooted them, taken Piper away from everything she knew, but she had seemed so excited about it. Since she had started working at the book store, he had noticed she had become a little distant, he wondered whether it was because she'd had a better job in New York. But they had come through so much together in the last couple of years, they would get through this. Whatever it was.

The main course arrived, and Larry made some small conversation about some of their neighbours. Piper enjoyed how Larry saw the world around him, he found the humour in everything and everyone without being cruel. He could sometimes be a little dark, but in a light-hearted way. She would miss him, not as much as she had missed Alex, but she would definitely miss his company. In many ways, Larry was her best friend. Was.

Piper moaned appreciatively at her food, she could see that Larry was enjoying his steak. She would always eat steak rare, but Larry always had his like charcoal. He was running his knife back and forward vigorously over his blackened steak, and looked up at Piper as she watched him. "How's the fish?" he asked, taking a break from cutting his steak.

"It's really good, how's the steak?" She asked with an amused smile.

Larry had finally sliced a piece off and he held it up on his fork with a triumphant look on his face, "its challenging," he answered, "we will have to come back here again if you like it?"

A short while after they had finished their food, a waiter came and cleaned away the dishes, handing them each a dessert menu. Piper ordered Gellato as Larry had expected, and he ordered the tiramisu.

Piper sipped her wine appreciatively, and when a sundae glass of rich ice cream was placed in front of her she coughed as she inhaled the wine in her mouth. In place of a wafer was a ring, a beautiful white gold diamond ring. She stared at it as it glimmered in the flickering candle light. What the? How was she supposed to react to this? She looked up to see Larry watching her, his eyes filled with hope as he played with his napkin nervously. How was she supposed to say no?

"Is this?" she asked, in disbelief. She and Larry had discussed the idea of marriage, but not recently, not since before they had began preparing for the move to LA.

"It is.." Larry spoke, he dabbed his mouth with the napkin and then moved around to Piper, down on one knee. He took ring from the dessert and wiped it clean with his napkin and held the ring up towards Piper.

It was like a movie, they were in a top class Italian restaurant, other diners were now turning to see the romantic moment, there was a violin being played a short distance away. It would be perfect if it wasn't a complete nightmare.

"Piper Chapman, you have been my life's greatest gift, and I promise to love you and cherish you forever, would you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?"

Here it came.. Her moment to answer.. She looked at him as he looked up at her, she looked at the faces watching them. And she vomited.

"Was it something I said?" Larry tried an attempt at humour as he tried to comfort his girlfriend. He placed the ring back onto the table as he searched for a napkin. Piper apologised, covering her face as she ran to the bathroom.

Larry frowned, unsure how to recover from this moment. He sat alone at their table wondering what had just happened. Should he go after Piper? He waited for a few minutes before walking to the ladies bathroom, he opened the door and gently called her name and could hear her crying from one of the cubicles. He knew he shouldn't be in the ladies bathroom, but he didn't care. He knocked on the door where the sobs were coming from.

"Piper?" he spoke softly.

The door opened. Black make up smudged around her eyes as she looked at him. She sat fully clothed on the toilet, sniffing back her sobs as she tried to stop crying. Larry crouched down so that their faces were level.

"Why?" he asked, knowing this was the answer to his proposal.

"Larry," the blonde sobbed, "Larry, I.."

"Hey," he tried to sooth her but his heart was racing. He was scared. Was he losing her?

"Larry, I'm sorry," Piper managed to speak.

"It's ok," he said, though he wasn't sure that it was. He held her hand between his.

"Larry..."

"I'm sorry," he apologised, tears forming in his eyes, "I thought it was the right time.."

Piper sobbed, "don't you apologise," she told him, looking into his sad eyes, "you have nothing to be sorry for."

"I don't understand," he frowned, still rubbing small circles on the back of her hand.

"I love you Larry," Piper began, "but I don't think I'm in love with you."

He hasn't expected that. He'd thought maybe she wasn't ready for them to get engaged, but never that she didn't want to be with him at all.

Piper didn't want to see the pain in his eyes, she wanted to look away, but she saw it. Larry let go of her hand, and grabbed the sides of the cubicle to steady himself.

"What?" He asked, his voice breaking, "Piper, a lot has happened recently, I-

"Please Larry," she stopped him, "I'm sorry."

He sat himself on the floor, defeated. He didn't know why he asked his next question, Piper wasn't the type of person to cheat, but he had to know. "Is there somebody else?"

Piper let go of a deep breath, and by not answering him, she had given him the answer.

"Who?"

"It's not anybody you know-" Piper answered.

"Who?!" His voice was louder now, angrier.

Just after he'd said it, they could hear footsteps in the bathroom, and then the shaky voice of a concerned woman. "Is everything ok? Are you ok?"

Piper watched as Larry squared his jaw, "I'm fine," she answered.

The woman left the bathroom.

"Who is it Piper?" Larry asked, this time in a more controlled voice.

"Alex."

"Who's Alex? Is he the guy at number 3?"

Piper shook her head, "Alex, my ex-girlfriend Alex.."

Larry's eyes widened, "the woman you left in Paris?"

"She works at the book store," she told him.

"And you never even told me?!" He was getting angry again, his voice louder.

Piper looked down at the floor.

The sudden and harsh sound of the bathroom door flying open and hitting the wall caused them both to look up at each other. Seconds later there was a knock at the cubicle door.

"Sir, you shouldn't be in here," a male voice spoke sternly.

Larry stood up and opened the door, "We were just having a conversation," he tried to explain, but the man ignored him. Larry recognised him as the bartender.

"Are you ok miss?" the bartender asked.

"I'm fine," Piper stood up too, as though to show them she hadn't been harmed. She couldn't believe how quickly this had began to escalate. "We were just talking," she confirmed to the man, "I just got myself a bit upset and my boyfriend was trying to comfort me.."

The waiter looked from Piper to Larry, he wasn't sure whether to believe her, but he had no choice.

"Ok, well, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to continue your conversation elsewhere," he advised and motioned for Larry to leave the bathroom. Larry left and stood beside the door, "if you could return to your table, sir?"

Larry pushed his hand into his pocket and pulled out some money, he placed it on their table as he walked straight out of the restaurant and onto the street, pacing the pavement beside their car as he waited for Piper. He wanted to drive off and leave her there, but he knew that he couldn't.

Piper emerged some time later, and they got into the car and drove home in silence together. As they reached the apartment they both went about their usual evening routines. Piper watched Larry hoping that she could find some words for him, but there was nothing. An apology didn't take away the fact that she had just broken his heart, it didn't offer him any comfort or hope. She knew that anything she said would just fall on deaf ears now. She wanted Larry to know she hadn't slept with Alex yet, as though that made the situation somehow better, but she knew that it didn't. Because she wanted to, and that was just as bad. She looked at the bed she shared with Larry and she knew that she had to leave.

Piper walked out of the apartment dialled Alex's number. No answer. She sighed impatiently and headed back into her apartment, throwing her work uniform into a bag as well as a few other items she could use as change of clothes, enough underwear for a couple of days days, her make up, and her purse. She knew Alex would have anything else she needed.

"Where are you going?" Asked Larry, arms folded across his chest as Piper rushed around the room.

"I'm going to stay with a friend for a few days," she turned and closed her eyes tightly, she had no reason to lie to him anymore and yet she just had.

"To be with her, you mean?"

She walked past him, and without giving him an answer she left. She felt exactly as she had when she walked away from Alex in Paris, like a cold hearted bitch. But she knew that Larry would need some space from her, and if she was honest, she didn't want to be there. She dropped her bag into the back seat of her car and started the engine, she drove the journey in autopilot, her head scrambled with the many different things she was going to have to do in the coming weeks. Before she knew it her GPS was announcing, "you have reached your destination" and she looked for a parking space. It was about 9pm now, and most of the cars had parked up making it difficult to find a place, she noticed two men sat in a parked car and watched to see if they were going to pull away, but they didn't. She parked further down the street, grabbed her bag and walked to the door, buzzing the intercom.

"Nichols house of sex, please state your name and the purpose of your visit?"

Piper rolled her eyes. "Its me, Piper."

"Chapman?" the voice asked. The intercom buzzed to let her know the door had been opened and she began to climb the stairs. Nikki waited for her at the top.

"Another late night rendezvous?" She teased before she saw Piper's reddened eyes, her smile dropped as she looked at her with concern, "Are you ok?"

"No," Piper answered, she didn't want to sound rude but she only wanted to see one person, "Is Alex home?"

"Been locked up in her room all night," Nikki told her, "only came out for beer, she didn't even notice me cleaning the apartment. Wait, have you two had a lovers quarrel?"

Piper shook her head, "not that I'm aware of" she answered suddenly feeling unsure, she hadn't heard from Alex all day.

She knocked on Alex's bedroom door, but there was no answer. She pushed the door expecting it to be locked but it wasn't, she carefully pushed the door wide enough for her to step into the room. Alex was laid on the bed, eyes closed with a chunky pair of headphones pumping music into her ears. Piper could hear the baseline thumping from the other side of the room. She approached the bed and before she had a chance to reach for the headphones, Alex's eyes shot open.

"Piper?" The dark haired woman asked, she noticed the tear stained eyes and switched her music off, dropping the headphones to the floor beside the bed, "what's wrong?"

"Can I stay here with you tonight?" Piper asked, tears forming in her eyes.

"Of course you can," Alex shifted across the bed to give Piper room to sit beside her, "what happened, Pipes?"