2019-New Jersey.

Cemeteries were never in anyone's favorite place to visit, as far as Piper's concerned. Yet here she was, with a bouquet of flowers in hand.

Admittedly, when Alex suggested they go to New Jersey for the weekend, and casually thrown the word 'cemetery' in the mix, Piper wasn't too thrilled with the idea. "But it'll be so much fun," she said, puling Piper back to the bed and kissed her all over. Piper couldn't help but giggle.

"How is it going to be fun? I mean, I have nothing against Jersey, but the second part kinda threw me off, there."
"I was thinking of visiting Geoff."

Piper sat up immediately, the grin left her face as soon as Alex mentioned his name. She knew how much Geoff meant to Alex, and how much he had helped her after prison.
Alex lifted her arm and softly caressed Piper's cheek. "Okay?"
Piper nodded and gave Alex a smile.
"Okay."

They placed the flowers by his tombstone and stood there for a moment. Piper looked over to Alex and the woman had her head down, her eyes closed and seemingly lost in thought. She thought she saw tears brimming on the edge of Alex's eyes, so she circled her arm around Alex's waist and the brunette automatically leaned in. Piper looked around and took a deep breath. This isn't so bad after all, she mused. She was struck at how very quiet and peaceful it all was. Some tombstones were well maintained and had fresh flowers. Some she could tell hadn't been visited in a while. Next to Geoff's tomb, there was a piece of envelope tucked beneath the vase. Piper felt her heart sank to her stomach, overcame by sadness.

She listened to the chirping birds, and moments later felt Alex's arm draped around her shoulders, pulling her close. "Thank you for coming with me. Now," she gave Piper a kiss on her left temple as they walked off. "How about we do something about that fun I promised you?" Alex reached to her pocket and pulled out her phone. She tapped it a few times, and when she landed on the right app, showed the screen to Piper.

EWR-OGG

PASSENGER(S):

CHAPMAN, PIPER
VAUSE, ALEX

When Piper squealed in delight and jumped to hugged Alex in response, she could barely maintained her stifled laugh. Alex was proud of the fact that even after all these years, she could still surprise Piper.

"You big idiot!" she squaled, kissing Alex all over her face.

"Yeah, but you love me."

Piper pulled away and looked Alex square in her eyes, the joy was still radiating from her face. Alex had lost count of how many times she was rendered speechless with those gray-blue eyes. "I do."

2014-Litchfield.

"So tomorrow's the big day. Are you ready?"
Piper exhaled to the phone and took a few seconds before replying. "Yeah. I think so."

"I'll be honest with you, Darling, I never thought this day would come so fast."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, mom."
"Oh, you know what I mean, Piper, what with that insufficient ex-lawyer of yours. I was so glad when Polly told me you wanted a new lawyer. Look at what he's accomplished."
"Yes, I know, he's a miracle worker."

They fell into silence, but Piper could feel that there was something her mother had wanted to ask her.
"What happened? Between you and Larry. What happened?"

Well, fuck. Here we go.
She'd known that her mother would ask her after avoiding the subject for so long, but she thought it would be once she was out of prison. Piper's brow furrowed and she lifted her free hand to rub her forehead. She wouldn't know where to begin. She was with Larry for a long time, and she had a clear idea of where things were going, how things were going to go after she got out. But so much had changed, and now she hadn't even had the slightest clue.

"We just... I…" Piper paused, composing herself to come up with a non-blubbering answer.

She couldn't tell her mom all the stupid things Larry had done (although she suspected her mother already knew). She couldn't say that even when she decided she was going to go through with marrying Larry, she didn't love him anymore, and could no longer imagine any sort of future with him. She couldn't say how selfish Larry actually is, and how the new Larry, the one who was just showing his true colors, had both shocked and scared her, and she felt like she didn't know him at all anymore. What she did know was how Larry loved compartmentalized Piper, and not the I'm-actually-trying-do-deal-with-my-shit-now Piper. Between the time she had spent apart from him and the time they would be in contact, she grew more and more convinced that maybe he thought once she got out of prison, she would fit into the idea of Piper he'd been carving in his head and nothing would change. But as far as Piper's concerned, she was done being pushed and shoved and molded into someone's fantasy. She was her own person, with her own fucked up problems. The last thing she needed was someone like Larry guilt-tripping her into marriage, playing the part of wounded/abandoned partner.

She also couldn't tell her mom that she loved Alex. That she still loves Alex.

"We grew apart. We wanted different things. Now can we please talk about something else? How's dad doing?" She asked, trying to avert further discussion about Larry.

Her mother stayed quiet and didn't buy Piper's method of distraction. Then after seemingly hours, in the softest voice Piper had ever heard, she whispered. "I'm so sorry, Piper."

By night, Piper couldn't suppress her feelings any longer. She blamed the phone call earlier, but truth be told it was only a matter of time before the bubble burst. The phone call was nothing more but catalyst.

She asked O'Neill to be excused after dinner and walked straight to the laundry room.

It was quiet and dim, with only the soft hum of the machines and the white glow from the lamps. Piper stood by the door, her eyes scanning the entire room.

She remembered Alex folding laundry over by the counter.
She remembered Alex got stuck in the dryer.

After many months of burying her emotions when it comes to the raven-haired woman, Piper had allowed herself to feel them again. They came rushing like a tsunami and she let herself be engulfed with the enormity of it all. She reached into her jacket and unfolded Alex's little note.

See you soon, Kid.
-A

"I miss you."

The words slipped out of her mouth, and swallowed by silence.

Everything was handed back to her.

Her shirt.
Jacket.
Shoes.
Jeans.

She took off her jumpsuit and put her regular clothes on, but after so long of wearing beige and gray and white, wearing something of other color felt foreign against her skin. She was a bit shocked when she saw jer jeans hanging loose on her waist, and the whole outfit threw her off for a second. But then Maxwell called her name and snapped Piper back and made her realize the finality of it all.

This was it.
She's getting out.
Outside, Polly's waiting.

Before she went out and handed the uniform back, Piper took the small piece of paper and folded it into her jeans pocket.

"You're free to go, Chapman."

Polly gave her a long hug once they were out the building, and Piper relished the contact. Polly always gave the best hugs.

"So. Where do you want to go?"
"Give me some booze and burger."

2016-Dublin, CA.

"Queen of smack, free at last!"
"Shut up."
Alex pulled the tall, chubby man into a hug as soon as she was within reach.
"Good to have you back out," he said.
"Yeah. Good to be out. Hey, thanks for picking me up, Geoff. I owe you big time."
"Pfft. What are friends for?"

The ride to town was enjoyable, mainly because Geoff was talking the entire time. Alex had known him way back then in her drug-dealing days, and they had always instantly hit it off whenever they meet. She was unsure about whom to call to pick her up, and Geoff was the only name that she could think of. Luckily he didn't mind.

"So I heard that you got that Piper Chapman gal indicted as well? I thought she was your girlfriend."
Alex's body stiffened up immediately. "No need to remind me. I know I'm an asshole."
"Hey, I'm not judging."

"So how is business these days? You heard anything from the crew?"
"You know I was only in it for a short time to pay for my chemo. Look where that got me." He said matter-of-factly. Alex curled her lips inward and didn't say anything back for a while.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to gloom down the mood," he finally spoke again. "Look you can talk about the cancer, dude. I mean, we both know it's there."
"How are you doing?"
"Eh, with all the therapy I got, I'm surprised I'm not all skin and bones yet." Alex gave out a chuckle, and Geoff laughed at his own joke. "But seriously, it's not that bad. It's been a good couple of months, so I'm not complaining."

They stopped by the diner just before entering the city. Alex ordered a hotdog, fries, and milkshake, and Geoff had a pizza. They talked about the old days, and about some of the guys still inside. Geoff had heard about the bust on Cooper and the kingpin, but didn't know anything more other than the fact that they had been caught. Alex took it as a sign that the Feds really meant business about keeping her safety.

"Speaking of which, do you know what you're gonna do now that you're out?"
Alex shook her head, her mouth full with fries, and she gulped it down before she replied. "I don't know. I haven't figured that part out yet."
"Here's a thought. Why don't you come work with me?"
"What?" her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What would I be?"
"My assistant."
She laughed.

"Dude, I'm serious. My assistant bailed on me and I've been scrambling to find a replacement for two weeks now and I can't pick for shit. You think running a café is easy? Hannah has been helping me run things around, but we're severely understaffed right now. We could use the help."

"Is Hannah okay with this?"
"Yeah! She knows you, for crying out loud. You guys aren't some strangers. She knows your past and everything and she's okay with that. I've talked to her. " Geoff took a sip of his soda.
"You did?"
"I figured you would still be Wing-It-Vause," Alex gave out a light chuckle when she heard the nickname. "So I took a chance just in case. She was all onboard." Geoff had always known her like the back of his hand, and it didn't really surprise her that he'd ask his wife before he'd asked her.
"What would I do?"
"You'll handle orders and purchases. Budgeting and finance, things like that. I know it sounds lame, but come on. You'll really be doing us a favor. Plus last time I checked you're really good with spreadsheets and stuff."

Alex threw her head back, laughing. "Some things you never forget."

She really was grateful for Geoff. This was an entirely new thing for her, and she had no idea where or how she was going to start looking for a job. Most people would just turn ex-convicts down, that much she knew. He was offering her a lifeline, and this time it doesn't matter how boring it all sounds. She was determined to turn her life around, and this was the first step.

"So how about it, Wonder Woman?" Geoff asked again, wriggling his eyebrows.
"You've got yourself a tattooed assistant, you know that, right?"
"Oh, I'm fully aware." He grinned. "Welcome to the real world, Vause."