Chapter 6

Saturday

"Pipes, are we going to tell Nicky and Lorna tonight?" Alex asked

"I don't know, what do you think? I kinda want to wait a little bit longer. I like this being just between us for now." Piper replied.

Alex smiled up at her, "Whatever you want, babe. What if we waited a couple more weeks, until the next appointment, then have a huge party to tell everyone? It'll be fun, like the old days."

"HA! Trade in the drug mules, X and champagne for petit fours with blue and pink icing, baby rattler stirrers for the milk we will serve and lullabies playing. Yep, just like the old days." Piper chuckled.

"Well when you put it like that…."

Piper threw a pillow at her. Alex jumped off the couch and started across the room for her. Squealing, Piper darted around the coffee table. Alex switched directions and came around in front of her. Laughing outright now, Piper tried to scoot around her. Alex grabbed her by the waist and hauled her down into the chair with her. Piper wiggled and squirmed but Alex's grip just got tighter. Finally Piper sighed and settled into Alex.

Piper started rubbing small patters on Alex's forearm. She was content to stay like this for the rest of the evening. She loved being in Alex's arms. She felt Alex start rubbing her back. She closed her eyes, gathering her thoughts. They stayed that way a bit before Piper spoke up. "I'm not telling my mom Alex. I know she will find out eventually from dad or Cal, maybe even Polly. But I'm not telling her and until she accepts you, accepts us, she won't see our baby."

Alex sat quietly for a moment thinking of how to word what she was going to say. "Babe, you know whatever you decide, I'll support. But I have to tell you, I think it's a mistake. No matter how she feels about me, she loves YOU and will love our baby no matter who the other parent is. Blob is already robbed of one set of grandparents, let him have your mom AND dad Pipes."

"No Alex. I love you for saying that, but no." Unwinding herself from Alex, she stood and started for their bedroom. "I'm going to take a bath before dinner. Come with me?"

They arrived at the café before Nicky and Morello did, so they got a table up front, right in front of the big bay window. Alex and Piper both remembered all too well the need to see out into the world and not feel closed in when they got out. Both ordered waters and settled in, talking about their plans and schedules for the next few days.

"I hate it when you leave Alex. I never sleep good and I'm lonely." Piper whined

"I hate to be gone too, but you know the terms of my probation state that twice a month I have to go talk about my crimes and my time. Good ole DOJ thinks what I have to say is seriously going to deter some adrenaline junkie." Alex snarked.

"I know, I know, it doesn't make it any easier though. Will you be home when I get in Tuesday? I should be home around 2." Piper said.

"I should be. How 'bout I cook us dinner that night? You pick out a movie and we will snuggle in bed from the time you get home until we're forced out of bed the next day?" Alex asked.

Grinning, Piper started to reply when they heard "Well, I'll be damned if it isn't the Vauseman's! Shit, look at you two!"

Alex looked over Piper's shoulder and jumped out of her seat. "Nicky!" she moved over to her and hugged her old friend. Piper hung back a bit. She loved Nicky, she did, and she was eternally grateful to her for being there for Alex when she wasn't, but a small part of her still cringed to see them touch. Her mind always traveled back to her first Christmas at Litchfield. The Mega Fuck-Up. Shaking those memories, she rose and went to Lorna, giving her a big hug. She whispered in her ear "She looks fantastic. You are just what she needed." Pulling back, Lorna gave her a huge smile and said "Likewise Chapman."

"College! Get over here! Don't think you aren't getting some feels from me too" Nicky laughed and grabbed Piper up, squeezing. "Man it's good to see you two together on the outside."

"It's good to see you too Nicky. Really good. You look great! How has this week been for you? I remember my first week…no month was so…weird." Piper said.

"Yeah, it's been crazy, that's for sure. When I went in America still loved the president, Rihanna was the hottest singer on the market and I was leaving five chicks behind. Now, everyone hates the president, Rihanna's had the shit beat out of her and I'm a one woman show. Damn crazy." She said.

Alex and Piper chose not to press, knowing Nicky would talk about it in her own time, in her own way. Instead they talked about Piper's soaps and Alex's gallery. Alex asked Nicky if she had found a job yet and how long she had before her PO would step in and cause problems.

"Nah, no one wants a former junkie with a record, y'know? It's ok though, I got another couple weeks or so before he starts hounding me."

"Why don't you come by the gallery Wednesday? I could use some help with inventory and shipping. I hate it, it's so tedious and time consuming. I walk out with a headache every time." Alex told her.

"And you come home super bitch every time" Piper chimed in.

Alex just looked at her. "So whatdaya say Nikcy? Come by, say, 11? You can check things out, see if you like it. If nothing else, it will get PO off your back for a bit."

Nicky sat there speechless for a minute or two. Piper could see the emotions dancing in her eyes and reached under the table with one hand and placed her hand on Alex's leg, gently squeezing. With the other hand, she touched the back of Nicky's hand briefly, then reached over to Morello.

Morello put her arm around Nicky's shoulders and pulled her to her. "Shhh sweetie, it's ok. They are our friends, they understand. It's ok to let them see it" she soothed.

With that, Nicky let two big tears roll down her cheeks. "Vause" she started. She had to clear her throat before going on. "You don't have to do this. I'm sure I'll find something eventually. It's ok, really."

Looking over at Piper, Alex asked with her eyes. Piper read her perfectly well and nodded her head. Alex cleared her throat and said "We were actually going to wait a while to tell anyone this. But now seems like the right time to tell you guys. I was going to bring on another person in a couple months and start training them so that I could be at home with Piper more."

Morello jumped in then "Why Piper, you ok kiddo? You aren't sick, are you?"

Piper shook her head no and picked up where Alex left off. "Actually I'm not sick yet, but I have a feeling in a couple more weeks, there's going to be a lot of that for me. We found out earlier this week we're going to have a baby."

Nicky and Lorna sat there in stunned silence for half a beat, then Lorna screamed and Nicky shouted "NO SHIT! , she jumped up and rushed around to Alex and Piper, engulfing them both in a hug. Piper laughed and hugged her back, reaching to put an arm around Alex too.

Straightening, Nicky said "Alright Vause, you're on. But I'm not changin' any diapers!"

They finished their dinner, then said goodbye to their friends. Nicky said she would see Alex next week and Lorna thanked them both for giving Nicky a chance. Alex and Piper turned, holding hands, and started towards home. It was a nice night out and Piper was enjoying the glow of sharing with their friends this monumental step in their lives. Swinging their hands, she brought Alex's hand to her lips, kissing it lightly. She had so much to be thankful for in this moment. Everything she ever wanted was right here with her. Alex let go of Piper's hand and put her arm around her shoulders, pulling her to her side.

"Penny for your thoughts, Kid" she said. Piper slipped both arms around Alex and reached up to kiss the underside of her jaw. "I was just thinking about how all I've ever wanted is right here with me, right now. " Pulling Piper in tighter to her side, Alex bent to nuzzle the top of her head. "Me too, Kid, me too."

Walking on a few more steps, Alex stopped and turned Piper to face her. She looked from her eyes, down to her lips, lingering there for a heartbeat. Looking down further to the open collar of her shirt, she could see Piper's pulse quicken. Shaking her head slightly, she gave a small grunt and said "I sho do like yo titties, dandelion. I hear you like to hear that."