Chapter 10

10 weeks later

"Hey Pipes, I'm running late but I'm coming. I'll be there as soon as I can. Nicky has a meeting with her PO today and there was a problem with a shipment. I left as soon as I could."

"ok, hurry though Alex. I'm already here. If I get called back before you get here, I'll leave word at the front for them to send you bacl." Piper said.

"Don't let them do anything until I'm in that room with you Piper!" Alex all but yelled.

Chuckling, Piper said "Ok, I love you" and broke the connection. She sat back and went back to her magazine. She couldn't really concentrate enough to read anything, so she was just looking at pictures. Piper had heard the heartbeat at the last visit but Alex was out of town and missed it. It broke Piper's heart but some things couldn't be helped. Today Alex would hear it for the first time and they were finding out the sex of the baby. Piper was still hoping for a girl, but really all she cared about was that it was healthy. They started throwing baby names around a couple of weeks ago. Neither could agree on anything. Piper liked the more traditional names for a girl, while Alex wanted a more modern name. there wasn't a boy name out that there sounded or felt right to Piper.

"Chapman-Vause" she heard. Looking at the door hoping to see Alex rushing through, she rose and followed the nurse down the hall. She was led back to a room and given a cup and a gown. Piper went about the routine all the while listening for Alex to come charging through the building.

As Piper was coming back into the room she heard her name called. She felt the tension she didn't even know she was carrying drain from her body. Quickly turning she went back out for Alex.

"Hey baby" Piper said, hugging Alex close.

"Hey Kid. " Alex replied, nuzzling Piper's hair. "I got here as fast as I could. I'm so sorry I'm late."

"Shhh. You're here now. All I've done is pee in a cup so you haven't missed anything." Piper told her

They went into the room together and waited on the doctor. He came in a few minutes later and checked Piper, measuring her stomach and all the other standard things. He asked if she had any questions or concerns. Piper told him she was still getting sick a lot and he said he would give her something to help with that.

"Well, are we ready to find out if there's going to be a Mister or Miss?" Dr. Sharpe asked them.

Alex immediately replied yes, then looked down, blushing. She couldn't wait to see Blob again. It had killed her to miss the last appointment.

The tech got Piper ready and started looking around. A swooshing, thumping sound soon filled the room. Alex looked around a bit confused. Piper linked their fingers. "That's the heartbeat AL" piper told her. Alex's jaw dropped. Piper watched each emotion dance across her face. Awe, joy, fear and finally love.

"Piper" she gasped, leaning down to kiss her. When she pulled back, alex had tears running down her cheeks. "Can you show me?" she asked the tech.

The tech smiled, saying "Absolutely." She showed them the heart beating fast, pointed out an arm and a tiny little hand. Alex laughed and said "Look Pipes! I swear he's giving us a thumbs up!" The tech continued to point thinks out to them. Alex thought he was going to have Pipers nose and chin. Finally the tech said "OK mama's, time for the moment of truth. You're having…a….BOY!"

Alex did a fist pump and said "Where?" Piper laughed at her and the tech pointed out the 'dangly parts'.

Kissing Piper goodbye, Alex told her she needed to go back to the gallery for a while but would be home in a few hours. Piper kissed her again and told her she would see her later.

Alex watched piper grab a cab, then headed down the sidewalk. Alex had commissioned a painting of Piper and was going to pick it up. She wanted TO SURPRISE Piper with it. Arriving at her friends flat, he let her in and showed her into the back room where the picture was being kept.

It took her breath away. It was Piper in the early morning sun, the sheet loosely wrapped around her, the swell of her breasts barely peaking through. Her face was washed in light, so open and innocent. Her hand clutched her pillow, her hair a wild tangle. Alex had taken the picture while they were at the beach. The painting was more stunning than Alex ever could have imagined.

She thanked her friend and set off for home. She couldn't wait to show Piper but she was kind of hoping Piper would be napping so she could curl into and hold her. And their son. Alex smiled at the thought of them having a boy.

A block from home, just down the street from the café, Alex saw Piper. She was sitting outside the café at a table. Thinking to surprise her there instead of home, Alex moved towards her. That's when she saw the unmistakable dark, curly hair. Larry. Piper was with Larry.

The blood in Alex's veins turned to ice. What the fuck was she doing with him? Turning on her heels, she went back up the street, crossing a block up. She would go home to wait for Piper. Her heart was breaking but she was too pissed to acknowledge it right now."How long?" was all she could think. Well, she would find out.

An excruciating hour and 17 minutes later, Piper walked through the door. Tossing her purse over the side of the couch, she started towards the kitchen and was startled to see Alex sitting in the chair, drink in hand.

"Oh! Hey baby, I thought you would be at the gallery a little longer. I wanted to…"

Alex cut her off. "How long?" she bit out.

"Excuse me? How long what?" piper asked

"How long Piper?"

"What are you talking about?" Piper was getting irritated. Why couldn't Alex ever just say what she meant?

"How long have you been with Larry behind my back?" she yelled, jumping from the chair.

"Alex, calm down."

"Don't tell me to fucking calm down Piper! Answer the question! When did you start seeing him again?"

"As long as you are yelling, I'm not talking to you about this Alex. Calm the hell down." Piper spit out.

"I will yell all I damn well please Piper! You are carrying my son! You are…oh my god. Why didn't I fucking think of this before? Of course!" Alex was pacing around the room, her mind working over time.

"What in the hell are you talking about now, Alex?"

"I saw you with him today. With Larry. At the café. It all makes sense now. IVF isn't how you got pregnant, is it Piper? Did Larry get you pregnant? We both know it wouldn't be the first time you enjoyed us both" Alex said with venom.

"Fuck you Alex! Fuck you! How can you say that? I was walking by and saw him. He stood to say hi and we started talking. I sat to…"

"I can't listen to this. Fuck you Piper. Fuck you for hurting me. Again."

Alex walked out, slamming the door behind her.