A/N: Hey guys, so this is the last chapter of this story however there will still be an epilogue. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and support this story with your follows, favourites and most importantly the overwhelming reviews.
Have at it guys...
Chapter #18…
They sat, silently gazing into one another's eyes, blue meeting green, while Alex held on to Piper's hands gently smoothing the skin of her knuckles with the pads of her thumbs. Endless conversations were spoken, non verbally, as they remained, fixed, inevitably forever.
As Piper let out a yawn, Alex was awoken from her reverie glancing to the clock on the wall for the time.
"Jesus Pipes, it's 2am".
Piper smiled as the nickname rolled from Alex's tongue, in her sated and docile state, she had completely forgotten about time.
Alex reluctantly released the blonde's hands from her own, leaning back to stretch her suddenly aching back and shoulders.
"Do you want me to give you a ride home?"
Neither woman moved, both not wanting to break the small bubble of heaven they had somehow formed over the course of the evening.
Piper shook her head in answer to the brunette's question.
Alex nodded solemnly, aware she would have to now take baby steps with the younger woman to regain any trust.
"I can call you a cab." Alex murmured, upset that the blonde would be leaving shortly, already prepared to miss her presence.
The older woman stood, turning her back as she reached for her phone.
"No."
Alex turned as Piper rose to her feet, standing just out of reach of the taller woman.
"Pipes, there's no way you're walking home, it's 2 am, you're in running gear that is already soaked through without going out into the freezing rain again…"
Alex was stopped as Piper stepped forward into her body space placing the forefinger of her right hand to the brunette's plump and lips silencing her immediately.
Alex stood, unsure of what was happening or what to do as a shy smile spread across Piper's face.
Using her big blue Bambi eyes to their fullest value, Piper looked under her eyes to make eye contact with the brunette.
"I want to be wherever you are…..if that's okay?"
Alex stood staring open mouthed at the blonde before her as she dropped her hand from the older woman's lips.
Alex nodded, her shocked expression slowly softening into a smile that matched the blonde's.
Piper shivered at their close proximity, this was the closest she had been to the brunette in weeks and apparently she could still turn her into mush, her legs instantly becoming weak at the knees.
Alex mistook her shivering for coldness, reaching out gently to rub her hands down the younger woman's arms. Alex was thankful for every second in Piper's company, worried that if things went badly tonight she may never have had the luxury, or necessity, again. She felt the need to protect the blonde, from the world, from herself, treating her like fine china or priceless porcelain that would break from any sort of contact. Upon stroking her arms, Alex looked at Piper's face, the silent questioning of whether she was okay to touch her.
Piper's smile made Alex's heart swell, the constricting of her chest and rapid heartbeat she was slowly adapting to in the blonde's company. Embracing the overwhelming feelings she had for the woman in front of her alongside Piper's earlier statement only increased her low confidence in the matter. Her head was all over the place non the less, wanting to do everything she could to make Piper happy.
As if reading her mind, Piper felt the need to show Alex how she felt, leaning forward to close the remaining space between them, slowly and carefully placing her lips to Alex's.
Alex reciprocated immediately, her hands remaining on her arms as her lips and mouth moved together with the pace and rhythm dictated by the blonde.
It was an unhurried kiss reinforcing their feelings of timelessness as they once again relearned the tastes, textures, and every other minute detail of each other.
Piper pulled back first, breathless as she rested her forehead to Alex's. They shared an intimate smile before pulling back further to once again look into each other's eyes.
Piper took Alex by the hand, leading her towards the bedroom as Alex held back, again unsure of what to do.
Noticing the sudden weight of the arm she was pulling, Piper turned to see a worried looking Alex.
"Hold me?"
It was all Piper had to say to have Alex following her into the bedroom.
XxX
Piper awoke first the next morning, still in the little spoon position she had fallen asleep in. She took in every infinite detail around her, the smell of Alex on her sheets, the rhythmic breathing of the brunette beside her and the secure arm placed around her waste.
Piper smiled. It was the best sleep she had had in a long while.
She stirred, turning to admire the brunette's beauty as she remained asleep. Alex's arm tightened on feeling the movement, settling firmly once more on Piper's back.
The blonde thought over the events of the previous evening. Everything Alex had said made sense, and she knew already from the vulnerability the brunette had showed that the information Alex had shared was not at all common knowledge. Piper felt important to Alex, keen to protect the older woman, she saw exactly why she had such a high wall built around her heart. Piper empathised, her childhood made her feel similar with the need to protect herself due to her dad cheating on her mum, both parties aware of the adultery but choosing to ignore it.
Piper shook her head, ridding the negative thoughts of her childhood and family life. She thought back through her life, realisation suddenly dawning on her, she had never felt as happy and content as right now, in Alex's bed, all cards on the table.
The woman before her made her feel that way and Piper was damned if she was going to lose it again.
She learned forward, placing a chaste kiss to Alex's lips. The brunette remained still as Piper placed her lips to Alex's exposed cheek, trailing the jaw line with her free hand before joining their lips once more.
"Just do that once more…" Alex murmured, her lips moving while her body remained perfectly still and eyes shut.
"Alex, you're awake!" Piper squealed slightly, aware she had been caught in her morning ministrations.
Alex opened her eyes, zoning in on the now blushing blonde who had rolled over to lay on her back facing the ceiling. She stared, failing to make eye contact with the smirking brunette.
Alex suddenly realised her position, the way her arm remained around the younger woman even in her sleep, stroking gently down Piper's exposed side with her hand that rested across the toned stomach of the blonde.
"Hey" Alex said it so quietly she wasn't sure if the sound had come out of her mouth at all.
She pushed herself up, her turn to place a chaste kiss on Piper's mouth before propping her head up on her arm, taking in the sight of the blonde before her.
"What are you thinking about Pipes?"
Piper turned now, her full energy concentrated on those sparkling green eyes in front of her made even more green and alive with the lack of glasses.
"Last night, you, me…"
Alex recoiled slightly, worried as to where this conversation was heading.
Piper smiled, rolling on her side to properly face the brunette, who slowly began to relax given the blonde's positive reaction.
"I heart you too Al."
Alex released a breath she didn't know she was holding, unable to stop the mega watt smile from forming on her face, one that was reciprocated just as keenly on Piper's face.
Alex leaned forward capturing Piper's lips in another kiss, this time an open mouthed kiss, exploring the mouths of one another. Piper groaned as she squirmed underneath Alex, the brunette sucking softly on her bottom lip.
Piper could feel the heat emanating from her core as the brunette continued to kiss her like life itself depended on it.
Just as Piper was building up a head of steam, moving her body in time with Alex's, the brunette pulled away, looking down at the panting form below her.
Piper moaned at the sudden loss of contact, pouting towards the older woman towering over her.
Alex took a deep breath, herself pretty worked up from their make out session.
"So, will you be my girlfriend Pipes?"
Piper kept her pout in place, moving her hand to tap her chin in an over exaggerated thinking motion. She watched the worried expression on Alex's face as she mocked contemplating the question. Feeling that the brunette would combust if she prolonged the torture any longer, her face gave her away first, sliding into the megawatt smile once more.
"Of course Al!"
Piper squealed again as Alex leaned down to seal the deal with a kiss.