Chapter 9

Alex sent Piper to go lie down while she finished cleaning up. Dinner had been fun for everyone, but Alex could see that Piper was exhausted. Alex was tired too. Piper had been restless the night before and had kept Alex up. She hoped Piper was able to rest better tonight. Maybe after the show was over they could get away for a few days. It wouldn't be anything like they used to do, but they could still find a beach somewhere and hide out for a while.

Smiling to herself, she started to make a plan. She was thinking of all the beaches she had to choose from and wondered which would be best this time of year. South, definitely south. She had no intentions of wearing anything more than a bikini the entire time they were gone and that couldn't happen around here right now.

She would have to ask her PO permission to leave the state. That shouldn't be a problem though. Alex had lucked out. Once it became apparent was very much self sufficient and had no intentions of ever returning to drugs or al life of crime, he pretty much left Alex alone. Requesting to see her only for the monthly check-ins and sending an email asking about her speeches, he typically didn't care or know what Alex did.

When Piper wandered into the living room looking for Alex, she found her in front of the windows staring into the night. She was so beautiful to Piper. Unbelievably, time and even prison had been kind to Alex. She had laugh lines sneaking out from the corners of her eyes now. And she wore her hair slightly shorter sans the blue chinks these days. Other than that, she still looked like the smartass, loud, captivating woman with Betty Page hair and firey red lips piper met in a bar a lifetime ago.

Looking at Alex, Piper felt her love for her hum through her. Had her love for Alex always been so consuming? Piper thought about it for a minute before deciding yes. There wasn't a fiber of Pipers being that hadn't always beat for Alex. Even when she wanted to hate her, when she tried do desperately to forget her and love another, every inch of Piper still longed for Alex.

"Where are you right now, Alex?" Piper asked quietly.

Jumping slightly, Alex turned to look at her. She smiled and opened her arms. "Hey Pipes, thought you were in bed"

Piper went to her and snuggled up under her chin, wrapping her arms around Alex's back. "I missed you" she said simply. Alex rested her cheek on top of Piper's head, rubbing back and forth between her shoulder blades and began rocking the gently from side to side.

"Come away with me after the show. Let me get you out of here for a few days. Nothing but me, you and the salty sea air. We'll order room service, sleep as much as we want and never wear more than our bathing suits." Alex spun the web for Piper much like she did when she asked her to go to Bali with her. Piper was convinced at "Come away with me" but let Alex continue to paint the picture of relaxation, sun and sex. When she was done, Piper was quiet, then whispered "Yes."

The showing at the gallery went really well. Alex was showcasing a new artist who had been in prison. Alex thought his sentence was bullshit, but with mandatory drug sentencing, what could you do? Piper, herself, was a victim of the same laws, so she understood where Alex was coming from. Dale, the artist, was a kind, timid young man. Piper wasn't sure how he survived. He said each painting represented a month that he was locked up. The last painting he did, the one Alex wanted, was vibrant and full of emotion and color. Piper loved it.

They were leaving in the morning to go to Key West, Florida. Piper couldn't wait and if Alex's constant chattering was any indication, neither could she. Piper was packed and ready to go. As instructed, she had next to nothing in her suitcase. Alex was completely serious about them wearing bathing suits or nothing and doing nothing for the next five days.

Piper snuggled into bed waiting on Alex to get off the phone. She was going over last minute instructions with Nicky. She could be a while with all the questions Nicky seemed to be asking. Memories of her waiting while Alex did business began to flit through Piper's mind. Paris; Bali; Malaysia; Jakarta; Chicago…was there a place they went to together that Piper didn't wait on Alex? Piper thought maybe she would hide Alex;s phone while they were away. If anything happened, Nicky had her cell number and could call her if she needed to. Feeling her eyes begin to droop, she pulled Alex's pillow to her chest and drifted off to sleep. Sometime later she felt Alex slide behind her, wrapping her arm around her waist. She scooted back into her, pressing into her for warmth. She sighed and immediately fell into a deep slumber.

The next morning was a rush to get to the airport. Piper was sick, again, causing them to run late. She felt bad and kept apologizing. Alex just looked at her like she was crazy. "Pipes, shut up. Seriously. Its not like you can help it. If we miss the flight, we miss the flight. We don't have a gun wielding drug lord hanging over our heads anymore. There's always another flight." Finally making it to the airport and onto their plane, they both relaxed. Alex reached over and took Piper's hand. "I can't wait for this babe." she said.

Piper leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. "I bought a new suit for the trip. I can't wait to show you" she said, smiling coyly.

Alex groaned and replied "And I can't wait to take it off of you. Piece" kiss "by" kiss "piece" kiss.

The flight was uneventful. Piper dozed on Alex's shoulder for most of it. Alex read and dozed off and on though out the flight. After landing at Miami International, they boarded a small plane to take them to the Keys. Piper hated smaller planes and was relieved when they finally landed. Alex had rented a small house for them right on the beach. Piper couldn't wait to get there. She had forgotten how tiring traveling could be. Even small flights like theirs had been. While Piper called Polly and Nicky to let them know they were there, Alex arranged for them to have a car.

The drive to the house was beautiful. Piper was like a little kid, ooing and ahhing over every little thing. Alex laughed and told her she was acting like she had never been anywhere before. Piper looked at her, eyes dancing, "Every time I go somewhere with you, it's like the first time Al. we haven't been anywhere together outside of New York or Connecticut in years."

"True. This is no Tahiti though, still a close second?" Alec asked while looking for the turn off to the house.

"Piper gazed at her, remembering when she told her that being in prison with her was a close second to lying on a beach in Tahiti with her. As much as she hated being in prison, it would always hold a special place in her heart. Litchfield had given her Alex again. "No, this time is better." She said.

Alex found the house and they unloaded their stuff. Dropping her bags in the middle of the living room, Piper went straight out the back door, onto the deck. She stood there taking in the turquoise of the water, the wind on her face and the tangy, salty taste of the sea in the air. Alex came up behind her and wrapped her arms around her. Kissing her ear, she sighed contently. She wished she could give Piper this every day. Someday, she thought.

The next few days drug by in a hazy daze od sleep, sun and more sleep. Piper relished having Alex all to herself. Thought they spent most of their free time with together, it was nice to have no interruptions and nowhere to go. They made love softly and slowly every night. Piper couldn't remember ever feeling so connected and in tune with Alex. She felt as if she were falling in love with her all over again.

On their last morning there, Alex lay in bed watching Piper as she came out of the bathroom. Her skin had a soft glow to it; her cheeks and shoulders slightly pink from all the sun. Alex hummed lightly to herself. Piper still made her knees weak. Reaching to the nightstand for her glasses, she grabbed them and slid them on. "Here babe, I got something before we left. I was going to wait until we got back but I got excited and shoved it in my bag before we left." She got up and got her suitcase from the closet. Piper excitedly came up behind her.

"What is it?" she asked, clapping her hands. She loved presents from Alex.

"Here" Alex said, handing her a small package. Piper ripped into it. Inside she found a tiny, dark grey onsie. Pipers grin got even bigger. Pulling it out, she held it up and read "My Mommies Rock!"

"Oh Alex! I love it! It's adorable!" Piper exclaimed. "She's gonna be so cute in it! We do rock, huh?"

Alex laughed and said "That we do babe. You're so sure it's going to be a girl. But I'm telling you, Blob's got boy vibes all over the place. I'm not sure what to even do with a boy. A penis. And balls, God. Just….dangly parts. Jesus." Alex shook her head, faking a shudder. Piper burst out laughing.

"Why do you want one so bad then?" she asked, still laughing.

Looking at her, dead serious, she said "So he can beat the shit out of any loser that messes with our baby girl."

Piper was taken aback for a moment. They were barely into their first pregnancy and Alex was already thinking about the next one? Sure, Piper wanted at least one more but she always assumed Alex would want to stop at one. Talking her into the first one had been hard enough.

She wasn't sure where this was going to go. Trying to lighten the mood a little, Piper joked back "Getting ahead of yourself there, aren't you Vause?"

"Pipes, blob, he's…I can't explain it. Knowing that he's there, growing inside of you; it's the most precious feeling I've ever felt. Sometimes when you're asleep, I put my hand on your belly and just hold it there. It's almost like I can hold him too.

I grew up alone Pipes. Just me and mom. I didn't have many friends, I was picked on from day one. You had Cal. I watch the two of you together and I know you have secret memories together. I want Blob to have that. I want him to grow up with someone; to have someone to always have his back"

Piper was stunned. She nodded her head and said she got it. On the inside she was jumping with excitement. Alex wanted another baby. Already. She wondered if it would be possible to carry Alex's baby next time. If Alex would even let her. Piper's mind was a whirlwind of questions and thoughts for the rest of the day. Tomorrow was back to reality and she had some calls to make