Note: Nearing the end. One more chapter, and an epilogue. But I do have another story in mind, and that will be based on this whole piece. Again, apologies if there's any mistakes on the names and timeline. Enjoy.

2019-34,000 feet.

The sun hadn't been too strong, and Piper could see the endless bundle of clouds and the ocean from Alex's window seat. Beside her, the brunette had been sound asleep since just after takeoff, her head lightly bopping up and down within inches of Piper's shoulder. The overnight layover had wounded Alex tired and restless, and she didn't have a proper sleep, which Piper knew would make her cranky. A couple hours of rest would certainly help.

Piper busied herself with the Skymall catalogue and repeatedly read the safety instructions. She read about Cambodia and how exotic it is with places like Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Mondul Kiri. Her mind instantly went back to last year when and their crazy, spontaneous excursion around South East Asia. First they went to Singapore ("this is like organized adventure", Alex said as they board the MRT), then Malaysia (Piper knew enough to avoid the spicy food, but she couldn't resist the Nasi Lemak), then Cambodia (Piper nudged Alex's arm and winked at her. The brunette laughed. But there were no strangers in drag, and no X. Just the two of them renting a motorcycle and riding around town), before making their final stop in Kathmandu (the sight of Everest had made Piper cried). It was a great two-week escapade, something both of them needed to get away from their hectic work schedule.

Now they're in another plane, with a couple more hours to go before they land in Maui. How had Alex managed to come up with this trip and kept it under wraps is beyond Piper.

But then again, she had always been good with secrets.

The captain spoke to the passengers to expect some mild turbulence during the flight, and Piper felt her grip tightened on her armrest. Jesus. If there was one thing she's paranoid about, it's turbulence. She made a mental note to never watch air crash investigation before any flight, or ever, for that matter. The flight attendant seemed to sense her anxiety and went over to ask if she needed anything. "Tequilla," she responded without hesitation. She did feel a bit more at ease after a shot.

Alex was still dozing off, completely oblivious. Piper looked over and saw Alex's head leaning all the way to her seat. Carefully, she lifted Alex's head and leaned back to her seat, letting Alex use her shoulder for support.

Being in a closed space has a way of making you think. Her mind couldn't stop spinning when she was in SHU. It took her months to get the thoughts to quiet down at night when she first got out. These days it's been a lot better, but being in a plane with nothing to do had brought the old habit back. And Cambodia made her thought about how they had come to find each other again.

2018-New York.

Her first thought was "Where is she?"

Her second thought was followed by a knock-out punch of yearning. She missed Alex. She knew that much, but ever since that night in the laundry room, she never let herself admit it again and had trained herself to think that Alex is in the past and it's time to move on.

This time, it completely floored her. When she realized her hands were shaking, she put the note back inside the book and took a few deep breaths, collecting herself before entering the apartment. One thing was certain: Alex was in town. And she had decided right then and there to find out where she was.

"That was a shit move. That was the shittiest move I've ever heard in my life."

"Jesus, Nicky, I can't just come up and say to her, 'hi. You ordered a 20-inch carrot cake in my café for your nephew's birthday. By the way, remember me? We went to prison together, and I dumped you for picking your fiancé.' Are you insane?"

"All I'm saying is that you knew where she lived and instead of going over there, by yourself, you decided to have your delivery guy put a fuckin' book in her post box." Alex could feel Nicky's scoff through the receiver. "You and your lesbian drama."

"Shut up."

"Look, Vause. I ain't good at this shit, either. But I'm not gonna go and send cryptic shit and hope she'll come runnin' to find ya. Have some balls, for cryin' out loud and stop being so touchy-feely about it. Go over there, bring some, I don't know, flowers or some other shit she likes, and fucking say hi. Why do you have to make it so hard on yourself?"

Alex was full on annoyed with her friend and if Nicky were next to her instead of all the way over at San Francisco, Alex was sure she'd give her a whack in the shin. She hated it when Nicky's right. And she almost always is.

"What if she…"
"If she turns you down, you moron, you pick yourself up and you fuckin' move on."
"Jesus fucking Christ, if it isn't Ms. Hypocrite." Alex retorted and let out an amused chuckle. She could never stay mad at Nicky for long.

"Hey, I'm not saying I ain't a moron, Vause." Alex laughed at that one.

"Listen, I gotta go. But please, for the love of all that is holy, step up and talk to her. I can't listen to any more of your emo love shit. I got enough on my own."

Which is true. Alex said a casual 'alright' and hung up.

"Boss, someone's here for oder pick up. I gave the cake to her but there seems to be some sort of problem with the writing."

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me. Did Jesse mess up again?" Sean only nodded. "Which one?"

"Um… The carrot cake for a... Miss Chapman? She's right outside."

Alex froze in her seat and blinked at her employee a few times in response. He fidgeted around and pulled his hat down, puzzled with his boss' lack of response.
"I… Um… thanks, Sean. I'll be there in a second."

Both women's eyes locked at each other when Alex emerged from the back door. Piper's grip on her purse loosened and it fell to the floor in seconds. Lucy, the girl in the cashier, including some of the other staffs and customers, stared at them without even the slightest clue.

All the commotion surrounding the place went down in an instant, with only soft music playing vaguely in the background. Piper felt her knees began to buckle and couldn't really believe that Alex was, in fact, the person standing right in front of her. She hadn't even started her quest on finding Alex yet, and she had already found her, all because of a wrong spelling of Finn's name. Piper wasn't sure she'd been more thankful for a misspelled name in her life.

"I hear you got a problem with the writing decoration?" Piper could hear Alex's trembling voice and wanted to rush over and clung to the brunette woman with all of her strength, but she resisted.
"Yeah. Yeah. It's supposed to be Finn, with two Ns. I mean, this just says 'the end' in Spanish."
Alex let out a small laugh and Piper felt her insides flip. She hadn't heard the raspy laugh in so long, she'd forgotten what it sounded like. Hearing it only brought back a slew of memories.
"I'm really sorry about that. Here, I'll take it out back and we'll redo it for you."
"Thanks."

It was all very business-like, and Piper wasn't sure what to make of it. They didn't exactly leave things out in the open when she was brought to SHU and Alex got transferred. There were a lot of questions swirling around in her brain, and she was certain the same applied to Alex. Piper didn't want to get ahead of herself, though. She picked up her purse and told herself not to expect too much. This could still go either way.

But just before she disappeared into the kitchen, Alex turned and caught Piper's eyes. "Good to see you again, Pipes."

2019-30,000 feet

Somewhere in between, Piper had also managed to fall asleep.

She woke to the sound of the seat belt sign, with the captain speaking on speakerphone telling the passengers that they'll be landing shortly in Maui. Outside, the outline of the island had already presented itself and she could feel the plane lowering its altitude.

"Al?" she called out softly, her hand gently stroking Alex's arm tapping her thigh. "Al?" she gave Alex a fluttering kiss on her head and her forehead.

Finally Alex came to and blinked her eyes open. "What?" her voice was thick with exhaustion and made it all the more raspy. Piper flashed a smile and pointed out the window. "We're here."