A/N:

So, originally I planed on splitting this chapter into 2 but then decided against it. Tell me if you like where things are going and let me know if things are going at a respectable pace and i'm not moving too fast or too slow. Anyway enjoy the chapter until next time my lovelies.

Btw, you should try reading this with some sort of music in the background, it really adds more emotion to the context. And, also this is not beta read so sorry in advance for any mistakes.

A day had passed since the disastrous get together and for all those 24 hours Piper couldn't help but think about the tantalizing brunette she'd crossed paths with; not once but twice in a row. The loss of contact suddenly foreign and unbarring. There was just something about those burgeoning green eyes. Something that just made you want to stare, like magnets pulling together by an unbreakable force.

She was laying on top of the covers of her bed. Starring intently at the white, blank celling. She had the bartenders shirt folded neatly beside her. For hours now; she'd been contemplating whether she should give the shirt back or not. As if it was a life or death decision. As if the whole world depended on it.

Multiple scenarios crossed her mind; her walking into the club and finding Alex but her not remembering her or returning the shirt only for Alex to dump it later. Who knows? Maybe she had some wired OCD tendency. How was she supposed to know right? All she knew was her name and where she worked, but that's more than nothing and a little over less than something.

She groaned grabbing a pillow from above her. She pressed it against her face and groaned louder. Why was it so hard to make a simple decision over something so intelligible. This should've been an easy-don't-sweat-it choice. So, why? In havens name, why? Was it so difficult to make a god damn decision.

Maybe it was because of something that was creeping inside of her, something she knew was finding it's way to her but also something she knew she wanted to ignore. Her curiosity be damned; this should be the last thing on her mind. She was going back in less than 3 weeks. She was going back to the military. She didn't need to start something she couldn't finish. It's not right. Not for her and not for the brunette she seemed to be stressing over.

Then again; when did she ever listen to what was right or logic. She was serving in the military. Any sane woman with a life like hers wouldn't have done that. But who ever said she was sane, maybe she was entirely insane. Maybe she liked the insanity and the less than logic life, cause sometimes life takes an unexpected wrong turn in the right direction.

She removed the pillow of her face sighing loudly. Maybe it was time to make that wrong turn. She was tired of waiting for the storm to pass, she wanted to dance in the rain. She only had a couple of weeks to do it before the storm reappeared again. She sat upright.

Oh what the hell? She had nothing else to do. She was nothing but a sitting duck in her brothers apartment while he went to work. Polly was busy probably punishing Pete for ruining last night, Nancy and Oliver are way along halfway to Seattle, Jack was probably in his own corner of the world, and she didn't want to spend her time with her ex fiancé or the square room she was currently sitting in.

She grabbed the shirt and stood up. She wore her shoes, pulled out any jacket she found and walked out the door before she could change her mind. What's the worst that could happen? She might as well use the time she had for something right?

The brunette and the redhead stood next to each other, facing one of Alex's paintings. The biggest one actually. Alex had been working on it for nearly a week. She was still skeptical about it but for the most part she seemed almost content with it. Yet, they both stood with cynical eyes. Alex's head tilted to the side and Nicky's arms over her waist.

"Don't you think something's missing?" Alex asked, her insecurities surfacing.

"Eh?" She squinted her eyes, inspecting it more. "Maybe you need to add more colors?"

"More colors?" She said with a startled voice. "The background it self is over 25 colors."

"I don't know Al, I just don't see the X-factor in it." She shrugged. Alex grumbled, removing her glasses, and throwing her head back. She'd been having a little creative block lately.

"Hey, hey." Nicky reached for Alex's wrist. "I mean it's not bad, it's really good." She tried to comfort her friend.

"But it's not great." She protested, placing her glasses back on. "Good, gets you no where in the art business."

"Don't be such a downer, Stretch." She patted her back. "The rest of your paintings are phenomenal, you'll know what to do when your mind wakes up from its slumber."

"Nicky, my show's less than a week from now. Who knows how long my mind's going to be asleep for." She huffed out as she sat on the chair behind her.

"Relax, something will come to you in the right time." She squeezed her shoulder and patted her back again. Alex sighed heavily, Nicky was right. When the time is right, it'll come to her.

"But, for now," she stilled her hand on the brunettes shoulder. "I need you to get your sexy ass down to the club and keep my regulars happy." Alex glared at her boss.

"Do you ever think about anyone other than yourself?" She asked annoyed. She was used to Nicky's selfishness but there was a time and place for everything.

"Uh ya," she said offensively. "Didn't you hear me? I was thinking about my regulars not me." She smirked, Alex rolled her eyes.

She was used to it. Nicky's self-worshipping. It was and is a prime factor of her personality. Anyone who knew her, knew she was self centered. So, whenever she thought of you or made a sudden selfless deed for you, know that she truly meant it and that she truly dose care for you. Not matter how little or big it was. Alex both loved and hated it.

Because she was the extreme adverse of that. She was nothing but selfless. Being raised by a single mother, she'd witnessed benevolence all her life. Her mother loved her to extreme measures and she taught Alex to love to extreme measures as well. She taught her to love deeply and faithfully. She did nothing but that. Such a shame it bit her in the ass.

"Speaking of me caring about others," Nicky started as Alex stood up and walked to the door. "What's with you and this new blonde chick?" Alex paused for a second. She fixed her jacket, her back still to Nicky.

"What blonde?" She asked dully. The redhead smirked.

"Don't pretend you don't know what i'm talking about." She grinned harder when Alex shrugged.

"I don't know what you are talking about." She opened her door and left her apartment, Nicky behind her.

"Sure, you do."

"No, I don't."

"You do."

"I don't."

"Oh you don't?" Nicky said with a chuckle, Alex turned with an enormous huff once they were finally inches away from her car.

"Nicky." She seethed. Looking directly into her brown eyes.

"What?" She asked innocently. Alex shook her head and got into her car, Nicky followed.

"You so like her." She blurted as she shut the door. The brunette stared at her in shock.

"I barely know her." She reasoned.

"Doesn't mean you can't like her."

"I'm not even going to waist my breath arguing about this with you." She shook her head and started the engine.

"That's because you know you like her." She mumbled to herself.

Alex catching her fumbled words, but she kept quiet and drove them to the redheads club. It was useless fighting with Nicky. Once she made a decision, she wouldn't change it. It's like she glued it with super special glue that was terribly hard to rip off. Which was good for business and thus the reason for her very successful club.

It was nearing 2 in the morning when Piper stood by the club doors mulling over her decision. Alex's shirt crippling beneath the palms of her hands. Suddenly, she felt all nervous and sweaty. Maybe this was a bad idea? She bit the inside of her lower lip. She never was good with choices. She felt a huge avalanche of doubt hit her all at once.

What was she doing back here? This was the third time she'd showed up here in the course of 4 days and during all those three days there was one common factor. Alex.

She knew nothing about this woman. So, why was she always gravitating towards her like they were so much in common. Like they were two ends of the same puzzle. All she knew was her name and where she worked. She didn't even know her second name or the most basic things you'd need to know to gravitate towards someone.

She didn't know what food she liked or her favorite color, or if she liked her coffee black with no sugar like she did. She didn't know what she did outside those club doors or if she even thought of her at all during the last 24 hours when they haven't made contact.

It was a long shot if she even remembered her. Piper never felt like she was the type to be remembered. She felt more outside those lines. During most of her time earth bound; she felt invisible. It would be a miracle if she was anything but to the brunette that seemed to fix herself into the blondes brain.

But then again; she could be entirely wrong. Maybe she was visible. Maybe the brunette did remember her. Maybe she did think of her in those lonesome twenty four hours and Maybe she did like her coffee black, with no sugar like she did. The only way she'd ever be able to determine that was if she sucked in all her insecurities and walked in with all that was left of her courage.

So, eventually. After a few more minutes of pondering whether she should walk in or not, her feet took advantage and took the couple of steps left to find herself in the bar. Time paused the second her feet ventured the club floors.

The music that was blaring loudly, nothing but muffled beats to the blonde as her heart raced. Her sweat pilling in her palms, her lips nearly bleeding from her rough bite. She was a nervous mess, more nervous than when she signed up for combat training which was saying something.

But why? That's the question that roamed in the air. Why? Why did Alex have such a grave effect on her? Out of the blue; why was it her of all people? She felt like the new school girl with a new school girl crush.

Yes, Alex was beautiful. Gorgeous even, but Piper never went so low as looks to be the determining factor for her to liking someone. She normally needed a long conversation or two in order to analyze and see if she liked the person. Not with this brunette though, this Alex. She was something new, different. Maybe even unique. It was like she'd been hit with cupid's arrow and now all she ever thought about was the infuriatingly gorgeous, bartending brunette.

Her eyes flickered around the club trying to spot the woman on her mind and just as she found her the lights turned off, the music stopped and everything was black. For a few fleeting seconds she actually thought she had passed out, she was terribly wrong though cause once she was about to determine that yes, she had definitely passed out the lights flickered back on the music louder and Alex on top of the bar.

And Damn, she was a sight for sore eyes. Long pale legs visible from her entirely short shorts. Her hand held firmly against a pole, a devilish smirk plastered on her lips. That damn waistcoat leaving very little for the imagination. Piper's heart dropped to her stomach. Never, had she seen anything so beautiful yet so intoxicating. Watching Alex's body do flips and turns so effortlessly was feverishly tantalizing and tumultuously toxic.

She couldn't tear her eyes away, she slowly felt her lips dry and underwear turn wet. It's been ages since she's felt anything sexual like that. Her sex life had basically been put on hold for over a year. She was only now feeling how much she had missed it. All thanks to this beautiful, gorgeous, tantalizing, bartending, pole-dancing brunette.

Somehow in that moment she couldn't help but feel like this brunette was going to mess up her entire life; in a good way.

Alex had finally jumped of the table when their dance routine had ended. She'd collected about a good 200 dollars tonight. She was pretty happy with it. She was currently out of breath, her chest heaving furiously trying to catch enough oxygen to breath like a normal person and not someone who ran a marathon. She could see Nicky approaching her with an enormous grin.

"You might wanna catch all the oxygen you can get." She teased, Alex curled her eyebrows in confusion. Nicky gestured behind her best friend by the tilt of her head.

"Look what the cat dragged in." She said with a smirk.

Alex still confused turned around only to find the blonde she thought she'd never see again approaching her. Her breath got caught up somewhere, somehow. Screw oxygen, fate and destiny just slipped of its edges again. Her heart couldn't help but stop a beat. She couldn't do anything but stand still. The only thing breaking her frozen state was her bosses rough pat against her back.

"Get that Alex Vause charm out, or i'm going to ask her out for you." She whispered against her friends ear. Smirk still growing. Alex swallowed the lump in her throat heavily and walked to the edge of the bar as Piper walked to the other end.

They met in the middle.

"Hi." Piper nervously chokes out. A shy smile lingering on her lips.

Alex chuckles realizing she wasn't the only nervous one here. She could have the advantage as soon as her 'Alex Vause' charm kicks in.

"You know." She began as she stared at the floor catching her final breath. "For a person who doesn't drink, you sure step into bars pretty often." She smiled, locking gazes with the blue-eyed blonde.

Piper rubbed the back of her neck with a shy laugh. She did remember her. She pulled out the shirt she had borrowed from her, which was probably drench in her sweat. Alex looked at it then back at the blonde.

"I came to give it back."

Alex smirked. She wasn't expecting to get it back. She couldn't help but think, for a soldier she was really sweet. How could this sweet, humble human being kill a bug let alone be at war. She knew it was such a stereotypical thought, and she knew the blonde was stronger than she seemed. So, she brushed off her corrupted thoughts. She took the shirt back, their fingers brushing at the edges. She smiled at the blonde who seemed to flush to the color red.

"Thanks." She said before silence crippled between them.

They stood there starring at one another, both at a loss for words. Nicky had been watching from a far. Alex never had nothing to say, the redhead shook her head with a chuckle. Her best friend was definitely having her first crush all over again. It's been a long time since she upped her flirting game. She'd forgotten how the game worked. Nicky made it her business to help her. She walked to her friend and wrapped an arm around her shoulder startling her.

"I see you met my friend, Alex." Her boss began, Alex's eyes widened, she knew what the redhead was doing and she didn't like it, not one bit.

"Nicky." She gritted through her closed teeth. The redhead ignored it and squeezed the grip around her shoulder harder.

"I'm Nicky by the way, I own this club. And you are?" She asked a grin on her lips.

"Piper." She answered skeptically.

"That's a pretty name right, Alex?" She smirked looking at her friend, her eyebrows raising and falling. Alex removed Nicky's hand from her shoulder and glared at her. She looked back at Piper with an apologetic look.

"Can you give me a minute?" She asked, Piper nodded. She smiled at her softly then pushed the redhead to the far end of the bar.

"What are you doing?" She hissed looking at Nicky as though she was the dumbest person in the world.

"Getting you that date." She hissed back.

"I can do that on my own."

"Clearly, you can't." She held a chuckle. Alex lifted her glasses over her head.

"Would you stay out of this?"

"No, I won't. As your best friend it's my duty to help you." Alex rolled her eyes, great now she was being selfless. She groaned, she knew Nicky wouldn't let this go.

"At least let me be the one to ask her."

"Sure thing, Vause." She said sarcastically, Alex shook her head and walked to the blonde again. Piper smiled up at her.

"So, you came all this way just to give me my shirt back?" She questioned a grin on her lips. Nicky's insolence long forgotten. Piper laughed softly.

"I wanted to thank you." She smiled. Looking into Alex's eyes like they were the only visible things on the planet. "For the other night." She clarified.

"It really was nothing." She brushed off. "I mean I did ruin your shirt." She pointed out.

"I didn't like that shirt anyway." Her nerves suddenly cooled down. Alex looked at her with a knowing grin remembering the other night, it slowly faded away when she remembered the sight of her disfigured flesh.

"How's your," she cut herself as she pointed to her stomach. Piper was momentarily confused, she'd forgotten about her wound. Her hand followed Alex's and she instantly remembered.

"It's the same as always." She shrugged. "Painful but bearable."

"Are you always this enduring?" She asked admiringly. Her eyes twinkling with adoration. Piper felt her stomach churn. She didn't know how to answer that. The brunette always seemed to describe her in ways that drove her words weak. They fell into a whole of silence once again.

"You should stop by Alex's art show this Thursday." Nicky jumped in again. Ignoring what she'd promised her friend. "You won't regret it, her paintings are amazing."

She knew Alex. She was gonna dance around this till their feet tire and they no longer want to dance. Till their paths never cross again and she regrets it. She didn't care if she got a mouth full from her, at least her best friend wouldn't suffer from a guilty conscience later. Alex's eyes grew bigger, her hands turn to fists. She was going to punch Nicky if she didn't stop talking.

"You paint?" Piper questioned astonished by the matter. Alex didn't exactly look like the type who painted. The brunette shook her head lowering her glasses back down.

"It's nothing really." She timidly said. The redhead smirked.

"She's lying. She dose phenomenal work." She patted Alex's back. "You should come. It's just by the auction center down St. Mark's Place."

"Don't listen to her." She stretched her hand over Nicky's mouth while she kept her eyes keen on the blonde. The redhead tried to escape her friends hand.

"she's drunk." Alex protested while she pushed the redhead slightly away.

"I am not drunk." She glared at Alex. When her mouth was finally free again.

"I'm actually surprisingly sober." She smiled at Piper who was stifling a chuckle.

The banter between the two was extremely heart felt. It normally was this way with the two. They were like kid brothers, the ones who always fight but stick together during the important times. You can only be mean to someone you were comfortable with and these two were more than comfortable.

"I think I might like to come." The blonde smiled, her eyes flashing with curiosity and joy. Alex, blushed at the look the blonde was giving her. Before the brunette could say anything else, Pipers phone rang. She pulled it out, her brother was calling.

"I have to get this." She excused herself with an apologetic look. Alex nodded and watched as she disappeared between the emptying crowd and outside the club. The second she was out of sight she turned to her best friend and flicked her head hard.

"Ow!" She rubbed the back of her head.

"That's for not staying out of it." She rolled her eyes. Nicky snorted.

"Oh please, you know you're happy I invited her to the show."

"I can't even," Alex sighed out heavily walking away. The redhead rolled her eyes still rubbing the back of her head.

"She'll thank me later." She mumbled to herself before she went to help close the club up.

Not much longer after the blonde had left did Alex pick her bag up and walked outside the club. It had started raining, the droplets falling thick and heavy. The only thing keeping her from getting wet was the small umbrella like awning in front of the bar entrance.

She sighed heavily. She didn't think about getting an umbrella, her mind had totally blanked on that part. She suddenly regretted parking her car near the edge of the 24 hour supermarket. It was nearly 10 steps away. She could get drenched in a matter of seconds and 10 steps were respectively longer than that. But she didn't have a choice.

She sucked in a very much needed breath, pulling her bag over her head. She ran the ten steps to her car. Pulled her keys out and fumbled for a few seconds before she finally pulled the door open and got in swiftly. She'd gotten slightly wet around the edges. She felt herself shiver from the coldness of the wetness. She turned her car on, switching the heater on. She cupped her hands by her mouth and exhaled a warm breath.

For the few seconds her body took to cool down, she couldn't help but reflect on how her day had turned out. More specifically; she couldn't help but think about the blonde who seemed to walk into her life so abruptly, with no warning whether she'll be back or not. The anticipation of not knowing driving her wild and leaving her wanting more.

Something about Piper; it was different than anyone she'd met before. It wasn't just about her being in the military, although that was a common denominator, it was really something in her eyes. Whenever she glanced at it she couldn't help but get lost. There was a story there, a story that's yet to be told. And it infuriated Alex because she couldn't read it. There was a lock on that book and the key was lost somewhere deep in her ocean blue eyes.

She was a mystery yet to be uncovered. She seemed like a private person. It was going to be hell trying to find that key. But somehow, Alex didn't mind it. In fact, she was more than thrilled to dive into that deep blue sea of hers. The only question left was, will Piper let her drown in her ocean or will she shove her to the shore?

Alex shook her head, ridding her mind of her thoughts and began her drive home. It had been almost half an hour when she stood at a red light. Her fingers drumming against the car wheel. She glanced around her window with boredom. Her eyes passed a standing figure only to flick itself back at it. That figure seemed so familiar. That blonde hair. It was more than familiar, she knew only one person with that blonde hair.

The red light had turned green without her noticing. Her attention surrounded that still unmoving silhouette. The only thing to get her out of her transfixed state was the annoyingly loud, obnoxious car honks behind her. Her grip on the car wheel faltered for a bit before she hit the gas pedal and drove at the slowest speed possible trying to catch a better glimpse at the standing figure. Cars behind her passed swiftly by, swearing at her but the brunette ignored them.

The rain had been hitting against her skin for the better part of an hour. She couldn't go back to her brother's apartment. Not now. Not when her mother was there, grilling her brother over her whereabouts. Someone had spilt the beans to her. Told her that she was back. Who? She didn't know and honestly she didn't care anymore.

She didn't want to face Carol right now. For more reasons than one. She knew the look she'd find on her mother's face. That worried look that could kill you. True her mother was sometimes wasp-y but she did care. Deep down behind her superficial plastic cover, she cared more than she'll ever admit.

And right now Piper knew her mother would be angry at her. She couldn't deal with anger at the moment. If she walked back home now, she'll be smothered into a hug then slapped for scaring her dear, poor mother. She'd understand both reactions. Her mother was old and tired. Having been through this before, she just couldn't handle going through it again.

She didn't give her mom enough credit for still standing after what happened to her father. Because in all honesty, the only reason Piper could still breath was because she'd found a way to distract her mind and suicide was never an option. She loved living, she just didn't want the life she had. Or more specifically she didn't want a life without her father.

But it's been years since that horrifying knock on her fathers door and it's been years since her fathers disappearance. He was dead, that's the ugly truth. Everyone knew it, everyone accepted it. Everyone but her.

She was only 12 years old when it had happened. Her father had called 3 days prior, telling her that he had a surprise for her. She knew very well what that surprise was, still she acted with excitement because she truly was excited. He was coming home. He was coming back for her, like every other time. For 3 days she'd been on her toes, she'd answer every knock at the door even though she knew he wouldn't be back until a couple more days. It's just what the excitement did to her.

Little did she know, it wasn't like every other time. And when that knock finally arrived on a Sunday morning. She jumped from her place at the breakfast table, nearly knocking over her cereal.

"Piper Elizabeth Chapman!" Her mother yelled, her voice a clear warning for a coming punishment for her careless ways. Piper ignored it, her stifled giggles escaping with ease.

She'd rushed to the door, her brother was descending the steps by that time and he was about to reach for the door when Piper beat him to it.

"I'll get it!" She yelled with an enormous grin. Her brother rolled his eyes, he'd just woken up and he didn't feel like starting their usual banter.

"Whatever, dweeb." He lamely said walking the other way to the kitchen. Again, the little blonde ignored and soon after opened the door.

Her once enormous smile faltered and turned into a frown. Instead of finding her father behind the door, she'd found two soldiers. Both in the same army attire her father used to wear. Her heart began to race. She knew what this meant, everyone knew what this meant.

The two soldiers looked at each other with sorry eyes then looked back at the blonde with saddened expressions. One of the men had bent to her level, he removed his hat and looked into her ocean blue eyes.

Piper felt her heart drown to her stomach. No. She thought. No, no, no. She screamed in her head. This was not real she lied to herself. She closed her eyes shut trying to force herself to wake up, just like her daddy always said. If she ever found herself scared or in a bad place all she had to do was close her eyes and the monsters would go away. It didn't work this time. She felt a hand on hers.

"Is your mother home?" The soldier who had pressed his hand on hers asked. She couldn't respond, she couldn't hear anything. They were still there, the monsters still there. She blinked roughly again but they were still there as real as the day was.

"Piper?" Her mother had questioned from a far, she hadn't heard the usual giggling laughter and deep voice of her husband. She whipped her hands on her apron when her daughter didn't respond and walked the few steps to the door.

Her feet paused in its tracks once she laid eyes on her daughter standing frozen with built up tears on the edges of her face and two soldier by the door. One crouched to her daughter's hight the other standing stiffly. She rushed to the door once the image had registered into her eyes. The soldier who tried to calm Piper down had switched his sad gaze from the little girl to her mother, he stood up abruptly.

"Mrs. Chapman?" He questioned for reassurance, the other soldier took his hat off. They both held them by their chest. Carol had pulled Piper behind her, her arms clamped against the girls shoulders.

"Yes." She whispered out, her eyes flicking between the two men. The man who'd done most of the talking look to the ground before facing Carol again with an even sadder gaze.

"It's with my deepest apology," He began, Piper's grip had tightened on her mother's leg. Her mother barely held back her curse words. This was some cruel joke right.

"That the Front Litchfield Academy, regrets to inform you," he continued and at this point, Piper's throat constricted. Her grip tightened around her mother.

"That Sargent Bill Chapman," Carol shook her head. Her own tears building up.

"No," she whispered out, the soldier forced a breath out before he sucked in another one and let it out.

"Has been missing in action and is likely a causality of war." He finished and Piper suddenly let go of her mother's leg, her eyes open wide. She pushed her mother away, shock evident on her face.

"No!" She began as she shook her head, her tears falling down her cheeks. "No! You're wrong!" She yelled back at the soldier as if they were the cause for the loss of her father.

"My daddy will be back, he's coming back!" She stomped her foot on the ground, Carol placed a hand on her shoulder which Piper shrugged away.

"Piper," her mother barely got out, the blonde once again shook her head.

"No!" She yelled even louder. "He'll be back for me!" She almost screamed lying to herself and everyone around her. She wasn't going to listen anymore, she rushed past her mother who tried to grab her.

"Piper!" Carol called for her daughter but the little blonde just rushed up the stairs.

From that day on everything changed for her. She was no longer daddy's little girl because daddy no longer existed. She didn't believe it though. He was only missing. She'd stayed up nights after that repeating that fragile line, only missing, till those nights turned to months and those months turned to years and she no longer kept track. But still there was just a hint of hope that he may be out there somewhere. Yet it was a lie more than it was a truth.

The memory faded away, when she noticed a black car approach her, she whipped her tears away as if that did any good. The rain replacing her tears almost instantly. She'd lost track of time while she sat out there. She hadn't even noticed the rain till now and when the car approached she swallowed all that's left of her pride and stood still.

The window gradually slid down from the passengers side as the car stopped. She felt like she'd walked into a puddle of quicksand when she recognized the figure that crouched forward to get a better view of her.

"Piper?" The person behind the wheel curiously voiced. Concern evident on her face. Piper was at a loss for words yet again. How is it that this brunette showed up whenever she was most vulnerable.

"Are you okay?" She asked again, her voice growing louder as the rain hit harder. The blonde still quiet. She didn't know what to say, she didn't have anything to say.

"Do you need a ride?" Alex tried again. Her voice almost going horse from how loud she'd been yelling. Piper hesitantly looked left and right.

It's starting to rain harder. The night was getting darker, her clothes were drenched. Her hair an utter mess. She had no place to go, no where to be and nothing to do. If she stayed under the rain she'd get sick and she didn't need another thing added to her list of unwanted concerns.

So, she looked back at the brunette. For a split second she found her courage and her voice finally reappeared. She nodded.

"Yes." She whispered out, Alex barely caught on her quiet tone. She unlock her car door, bent over to flick the handle forward and open the door. Piper easily slipped inside.

Her body freezing, her bones ached from the cold. Alex turned up the heater, Piper closed her eyes relishing in the heat. The tips of her fingers ice cold. They were slowly melting as the heat registered in her body. The brunette could do nothing but stare, a simple question rising at the top of her head. What was she doing out here? in the cold? alone? late? after midnight?

"Where's your home?" Alex asked, she couldn't start driving if she didn't know where she was driving too.

The response she got was unexpected. The blonde just shook her head and swallowed a heavy spectrum that barely got passed her throat.

"Not home." She shook her head again. "Anywhere but home." She still stared ahead.

The brunette drowning in worry. She could see the slight glint on her cheeks, the evidence of tears clear for her. Something was upsetting the blonde and it's like Alex could mirror her feelings because she herself suddenly felt sad too. She didn't wanna ask to many questions so she took it upon herself to switch that frown upside down, even if it was just a slight switch.

She pulled of the side of the road and began to drive. The silence that roamed around them a sort of comfortable silence. It wasn't deafening or discontented. It was adequate maybe even delightful. No words were exchanged throughout most of the ride, but Alex's eyes kept glancing back the at blonde. To make sure she was okay.

Although, she knew she was far from okay. She just didn't want to be a burden or a 'curious gorge' and grill her with unwanted question. She wanted to make her feel better and asking her about what was wrong or explaining why she was this sad would not make her feel better. If anything, it'll make her feel worse. Happening to have to deluge into that misery again. It was exhausting and obliterating.

Piper tried to avoid all her attempts to looking back at the brunette. She was still dazed by how this woman could effortlessly interfere in her life. She felt herself twitch suddenly. The coldness still in her system. Alex didn't miss it, she looked back at the blonde for a split second before she put her attention back on the road.

"Are you cold?" Her fingers hovered over the AC controls.

Piper finally looked back at the brunette, who instantly turned to look at her with a warm smile on her face. The blonde shook her head. Alex nodded and pulled her attention back to the road. Piper stared out the window, her eyebrows frowned. She couldn't recognize the path they were taking. It was more greens than buildings.

"Where are we going?" She asked as she curiously looked back at the driver. Alex smirked.

"Relax, I'm not kidnapping you and murdering you in the middle of a forest." She sarcastically said, she turned to the blonde who's eyes grew wide. The brunette chuckled.

"If you must know," she began seriously, putting the blonde at ease. "It's this place i've always been to since I got my drivers license." She looked back at the blonde.

"It's somewhere you can think and breath." She turned to the road again.

"Away from civilization."

"You don't have to take me there, you know?"

"You did say anywhere." The brunette pointed out with a smirk. "Besides, you look like you could use a break from the world."

"Do you always observe people so intensely?" Piper couldn't help but ask, she always seemed to know exactly what she needed. She was curious to know if she'd done it to others before.

"Just the ones I like." She grinned, turning her attention to the blonde, who blushed the slightest bit.

She shifted in her seat and stared away shyly. She could hear the soft chuckle that escaped the brunette as she looked back on the road. Her stomach felt a tickle at that sound. Alex took a final turn before the car stopped. It was at the edge of a beautiful cliff. The view of the city so beautiful and peaceful.

The rain had stopped. The grey skies were disappearing. It was amicable. Almost perfect. She found herself awestruck. No words could describe how refreshing the sight was.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Alex elaborated, Piper still stared ahead bewildered

"How'd you find this place?" She asked amazed, her eyes inspecting the beauteous figure in front of her.

"I was a curious teenager." She chuckled out, keeping her eyes keen on the blonde.

"It looks so-"

"Perfect." She cut her off, the blonde looked back at Alex who was admiring the view.

"Yeah." She breathed out.

"That's because most things are, from a far that is."

She said sadly, she turned to look at the blonde. "You can't see every faltered detail from up here, that's why it's beautiful."

"That's not why it's beautiful, that's just an illusion." She protested. "Faults can be beautiful too." She reasoned, Alex could feel her lips turn into a grin.

"Tell me then," she turned in her seat to face her better, she pushed her glasses over her head. "How dose someone like you end up in an army suit?" Piper froze at the question. It was the second time she'd asked her about it.

"I mean, I can't for the life of me figure out how you got the courage to do it." She stared into her blue eyes. "It's admiring." The blonde blushed again, looking away. That was the first time anyone associated her entering the military with admiration.

"Thank you." She whispered out, shyly.

"You're not going to tell me, are you?" She questioned with a chuckle. Piper looked back at her, she bit her inner lip. She didn't know if she should just yet.

"It's okay, I get it." She brushed off. Shrugging her shoulder. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"You know," Piper stared into the green orbs that rivaled the trees and grass around them. "You're the first person who actually thought about what I wanted."

"Maybe that's the hazards of being in the military, people just assume you'll put everything before yourself." She stared back into the blue eyes. "Even, yourself."

"Yeah." Piper sighed out, she smiled genuinely. It was the first time she met someone who actually understood what it was like.

"There we go," Alex grinned. "That's the smile I've been looking for all night." Piper laughed softly, her smile growing bigger.

"I don't know about you, but that's what I call beautiful." She smirked, the blonde blushed. She licked her lips trying to find her voice.

"So, tell me." she mimicked the brunette, who'd raised her eyebrows at the blondes sudden confidence. "How dose a painter end up dancing on tables in bars?" She asked, the brunette chuckled, pulling her glasses down.

"I'll tell you, when you tell me why you entered the military." She quipped back. Fair enough, Piper thought.

"How bout we skip the hard questions and jump to the fun ones?" The brunette smiled. "Tell me something about you."

"Well," she shrugged. "What do you wanna know?"

"Everything."

"Okay, Umm." She thought for a long minute. "My name's Piper Chapman, I'm 23, I work at the military-"

"No, No, No." Alex cut her off shaking her head and waving her hand away. "When I said everything, I didn't mean everything I need to know about your work resume." She chuckled as Piper bit her lip.

"By everything I mean," she thought for a moment, starring at her car's ceiling then landing her eyes on the blonde with a smirk. "Your quirks, your fetishes. What you like? What you don't? Your turn on's, your turn offs." She listed.

"My quirks?" The blonde question with a slight chuckle.

"Yeah!" She nudged the soldiers shoulder playfully. "Like if you eat your Oreos with peanut butter?" The blonde scrunched, shaking her head.

"I don't like Oreos." Alex gasped, her hand on her chest.

"You don't like Oreos?" She said as if the blonde had offended her somehow. Piper giggled lightly. The brunette pouted her lips, her hand still over her chest.

"You wound me." She dramatically said causing the blonde to giggle louder. She laughed along, till their laughs died down and they silently stared at one another. Both their eyes twinkling.

It's been ages since she had laughed so much in one day, she'd forgotten how breath taking it can be or how enlightening it could get. She suddenly felt like a lightweight, so carefree and at ease. For those few seconds of laughter she'd forgotten all her worries. When she finally caught her breath she fixed her gaze at the brunette, her lips still a sparkling mirth.

"I'm more of a Twinkies kind of girl." She expressed with a sigh.

"Now you're just being mean." Alex feigned hurt, which caused piper to giggle again.

"What else do you irrationally not like?" Alex pushed her glasses over her head again, getting a better look at the blonde.

"Mangos." She shivered as she scrunched her face in a disgusted manner.

"Mangos!?" Her voice heavily supported shock. "Are you sure your taste buds are working fine?" Alex asked sarcastically. Piper chuckled.

Conversation flew easily between the two, they'd lost themselves talking for almost 4 hours. The sun had begun to rise and they barley even noticed. Their minds and eyes transfixed on each other and what they were saying.

Piper had never laughed so much in her life. She felt so free under the wings of Alex Vause. Time had never passed so quickly. Her eyes kept gleaming at the brunette with every story she shared. Piper listened intently, subconsciously registering every little detail into her brain. The brunette was extremely funny and no doubt charming.

Her voice was a beautiful symphony Piper never wanted to stop listening to. So calm and casually collected with a hint of sarcasm every now and then. She couldn't recall any person in her life like that. Alex was exceptionally different. Unique in all the best ways.

She'd learned so much about her in just four fleeting hours. It's like she began to draw her outline and all that's left was to fill in the missing colors. Alex found herself doing the same.

Once they deemed it late enough; or in this case early enough, Alex began to drive the blonde back to her home. The soft conversation kept flowing like water in the river till the car slowed down and finally made a stop in front of Piper's brother's apartment. She was catching her breath at the moment, her laugh slowly dying down as Alex bore at her like she was the only thing she could see.

"So, throughout this entire time I know that you don't like Oreos," Alex pointed at her with her index finger, beginning to list of the things she'd learned.

"And you hate Mangos, and you like your Coffee black with two sugars." She smirked at the blonde as she continued on. Her fingers still listing. "You keep your books in alphabetical order, your clothes separated by color, you listen to death metal." She said with utter surprise. "And your favorite perfume is a 300 dollar bottle from Saint Lauren." She finished off looking at the blonde who was currently nodding.

"I'd like to know more about you." She grinned, her eyes examining her intently. Piper blushed.

"I think you've learned enough for one day." She said looking away from the brunette who chuckled.

"Says the girl who forced me to tell her all about my entire childhood." Piper laughed.

"I must say, you have a very interesting childhood." Piper scrunched her eyebrows with a smirk. "I never would've pegged you as the girl who'd join a glee club." She laughed slightly at the remembrance of the story Alex told her.

"In my defense, my mother feared I'd become an isolated child and glee club was the only club that didn't require extra cash on the school fees." She explained again causing Piper to erupt in laughter once more.

"I'd love to met your mother." She let out as her amusement died down.

"I'm sure you two would bond easily." She said with a chuckle.

Silence slowly entered their territory as they both relished in the ending for their time together. Pipers eyes swiftly fell onto the clock above the radio. It read 6:15am. She hadn't even felt it being this long since they were together. Being with Alex, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Like she finally found oxygen in a place that didn't have any. She smiled, her day had definitely taken a 360 degree turn all thanks to this tantalizing brunette once again.

"Thank you." She breathed out looking into Alex's emerald eyes. "I really needed this."

"No need to thank me. Take it as a gift for serving our country." Alex smiled softly.

"Your different than I expected you to be." The blonde suddenly blurted out.

"And how'd you expect me to be?" She asked with a shit eating grin.

"I don't know, normal I guess." She shrugged. "Like everyone I've met before but," she took a moment to really look at her. "You're not."

"I hope that's a good thing."

"It is." She nodded with a smile. They were once again stuck in silence. Neither one wanted their time to end, but all good things must come to an end. So, Alex sucked in a breath and looked at the blonde.

"About my show," she began. "You really don't have to come." Piper watched the rare nerves she'd seen over the couple hours crawl into the brunettes skin.

"Nicky was just being a best friend." She explained.

"What do you mean by that?" She frowned her brows at the statement. Alex blushed looking away.

"She thinks I might like you or something." She brushed of like it was nothing, mostly because she knew it could be something. Or more than something actually.

"But really if it's a bother you don't have to come." She informed again. The blonde just smiled, finding this flustered side of Alex adorable.

"It's not a bother," she said with a smile opening the car door, something came over her at that very moment and she didn't really know what it was but she leaned forward and pressed her lips against the brunettes cheek.

Alex felt a sudden tingle spring through her flesh. Her glasses had fumbled from its place, Pipers lips were cold but soft. So soft like brand new silk covers. She couldn't help but close her eyes and enjoy the simple touch. Piper pulled away slightly, her eyes twinkling with mirth. Alex flickered her eyes open watching the blonde gently leave her car.

"I'll see you this Thursday then." She said, her hand placed loosely on the brunette's car door. It took Alex about 30 seconds to walk back into reality. She nodded with blushing cheeks.

Piper smirked, finally the rolls were reversed. The blonde chuckled and closed the door but before she could walk away, the brunette rolled her window down and yelled out.

"See you around, Soldier." A smirk freshly placed over her blushing cheeks. Piper couldn't help but smile one last time as the brunette left slowly disappearing into the streets. Until they meet again. The blonde thought as Alex's car washed away into oblivion.