Chapter 14

Flashback

Piper

She sat in front of the vanity fidgeting with her necklace. It was a beautiful pear-shaped sapphire with round diamonds set in white gold. Alex had sent it to her through Polly earlier that morning.

"Hey Kid, the beauty of this stone could never match the beauty of you. I ask that you wear it as we walk down out aisles to each other. Feel the stone burn against your skin and think about my kisses burning your skin in a few short hours. I heart you,

Alex"

Reading the note again, Piper smiled to herself. It had been two days since she'd felt Alex's touch or kisses against her skin. Two agonizing days since she'd seen her. Alex flew in a day after Piper because her PO was late in processing her Out of State Approval. Then Polly had insisted that she stay with her last night. She said it was tradition. She doubted anything about her and Alex was traditional.

Alex

Sitting in the chair with a glass of Jameson in her hand, Alex looked down at the words in her hand.

"My Alex,

There is no value on what I am giving you. It will be waiting on you at the end of your aisle. I cannot wait to be your wife. XO

Piper"

She couldn't believe they were really doing this. After all the years and all the fucked up things they've done to each other, Piper was going to be her wife. She looked at the clock and sighed. It was time to get dressed. Rising and crossing the room, she retrieved her garment bag from the closet. Pulling it out and opening it, she stared at what she was going to wear. Pulling it out, she let her robe fall to the floor. With nothing else on, she stepped into….

Piper

Standing before the full length mirror, she turned this way and that. Smoothing her hands down the bodice, she looked at Polly in the mirror. She thought she would be nervous. It wasn't every day you married the woman who haunted your head, heart and dreams for as long as you could remember. She was completely calm and more sure of this than anything in her life.

Polly walked up beside her. "Well, you finally got your hot girl, huh? I can't believe you are marrying SuperCunt today." She said

"Polly." Piper warned. "I thought we decided you weren't going to call her that anymore."

"No, you decided that. I just agreed in the moment to shut you up." Polly replied

Rolling her eyes, Piper went back to making small adjustments to her dress. She wore an off the shoulder satin gown in cream. It had a mermaid skirt and had gently rutched side accents with rhinestone beading. She wore her hair in a soft French twist. She wondered what Alex was wearing. She'd searched the apartment from top to bottom over and over to no avail. She must have kept it at the gallery.

Placing her hand on Piper's shoulder, Polly said "It's time"

Taking a deep breath, she turned to Polly. She hugged her best friend and whispered "It's been time my whole life."

Alex

There was a soft knock on her door. "Come in" she called. Turning to face the door, she watched as Neri walked in.

"Hi" Neri said

"Hey" said Alex

"I know you don't have any family here and most of your friends couldn't be here for one reason or the other. I wanted you to have someone with you." Neri told Alex.

Alex just stood there looking at her. She was overcome with emotion and was afraid that if she moved or spoke, she would crack. She doesn't have anyone. Her aunt was sick most of the time and rarely left her house. She had a cousin that she spoke to once a year, at best. The only friends she would have wanted there were either still at Litchfield or they weren't allowed to leave the state.

"I can leave if you would rather be alone. I understand." Neri said softly.

Blinking rapidly to hide the tears she felt forming, she went to her and grabbed her up in a big hug. "No, don't go. Thank you." She choked out.

Pulling back, Neri looked at her and said "You look beautiful. You'll take Piper's breath away."

Stepping back from her, she patted her hair nervously. She wore it the exact same way as the night she met Piper. She had even had the blue chunks put back in it. She told Piper her PO approval hadn't come in yet so she wouldn't see it. It sucked staying away from her for so long, but it would be worth it to see the look on her face.

Her dress was an A-Line tulle with a sweetheart neckline in off white. It had beaded lace motifs embellished with beads and crystals. It was the first dress she tried on and she fell in love with it immediately. She didn't even bother looking at anymore.

"It's time" Neri told her.

Gathering herself, she linked arms with Neri and said "Walk me out?"

They stood at opposite ends of a makeshift aisle made on the pebbly beach. The aisle was lined with candles and torches. There was a slight breeze carrying the scent of summer and salt. The sun was setting and cast a firey glow over everything. It was fitting, don't you think? Hadn't they always been fire and gasoline?

Alex stepped from around the large bush and into her aisle. She waited for the music to start before she made her way towards her bride. Her heart beat hard with anticipation. She wanted to see Piper.

Piper rounded the corner and stopped. She couldn't wait to see Alex. Her skin prickled with goose bumps and the thought of it. Her heart sped up. Closing her eyes, she waited for her bride.

Both girls heard "Metamorphosis" by Philip Glass start to play. They counted to ten and began their treck down the aisle towards each other.

Piper saw Alex at the exact moment Alex saw Piper. They both stopped walking and just stared. Piper felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. "Her hair" she thought, a smile slowly spreading across her face. Then her eyes traveled down her dress. She was stunning. And all hers.

Alex's mouth went dry at the sight of Piper. She looked even more beautiful than she ever could have imagined. Taking a tentative step towards her, she saw Piper do the same. Each step she took, her confidence grew; each step taking her that much closer to her reason for everything.

They met in the idle. Piper's eyes traveled over Alex's face, taking in every feature. She was so classically beautiful. "My gift to you is me. Every part of me belongs to you now Alex. I am yours forever."

One single tear rolled down Alex's face. Taking Piper's hand in hers, she turned them and together they walked the last few feet to where the judge was standing. Polly, Pete, Cal and Neri gathered close behind them.

They opted to say their own vows instead of the traditional ones. One more check in the box for them being anything but traditional. Looking into her love's eyes, Piper started:

"From the first time I saw you, I felt this insane connection. I knew by the end of the night that you were someone very special, very unique to me. I started falling in love with you day by day but I fell completely in love with you the night you slow danced with me for the first time. Feeling your arms around me felt like coming home. Today, as I stand before you, I promise to be your home. I swear I will always love you. I will protect you. I will honor you. I will never obey you just so I can see you cock your eyebrow at me. I give you all of my heart, all of my soul, all of my being. You are inevitable to me. I love you Alex Vause."

Piper had tears streaming down her face as she slipped the simple silver band over Alex's finger. Alex took a breath, whipped the tears from Piper's face and said her vows to Piper:

"Kid, from the moment I said 'Hey Laura Ingles Wilder' and your eyes connected with mine, I was a goner. You were different right from the start. What started as a conquest ended in a life-long dream. You are my lover, my best friend, my sounding board and where I run to every night. I promise to be all of those things and more to you. I will give you adventure when you're bored, peace when the storms rage and love like you've never known. Someday, I'll give you the beaches of Cambodia again."

With her signature smirk on her face, she slipped the diamond encrusted band on Piper's finger.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I give you Alex and Piper Vause! Ladies, please kiss your bride!" Everyone clapped as Alex took Piper in her arms, dipped her low and kissed her passionately. All they ever wanted, they finally had.

Present Day

Alex's heart was pounding in her chest. Piper's breath was coming in ragged gasps. Rolling Piper towards her, Alex scooted in as close as she could get. She placed a feather light kiss on her lips. "Happy Anniversary, Kid" she whispered.

"Happy Anniversary, Al" Piper smiled.