A/N: I'm sorry for the late update. Life as gets is so busy making me do things outside this story and I'm having a hard time writing this chapter because i can't really picture this out. This part of the story just really shape up and was not part of the plan but I guess the "characters" are shaping their own story. ;) So I'm sorry if you don't find it to your liking. I just hope that you still read my story.

Isn't love supposed to be beautiful?

Loving can hurt
Loving can hurt sometimes

But it's the only thing that I know
You know it can get hard sometimes…

(Photograph)


Chapter twenty-two: Love is a Beautiful Lie

Two Months Later

I could feel the tension from the impending event that will happen to our family. In a few minutes, I will be walking down the aisle and as tag by media will be the luckiest woman in the world to be married to one of the most eligible bachelorette of the country. I look at my reflection in the mirror to check if everything is still in place. I could not hide my amazement with how the stylist made everything perfect for me.

Of course, Alex hired the best stylist for you.

I sighed from the things happening to me. In two months' time, Alex had prepared everything for the wedding, from the caterer to the dress was decided and paid by Alex. When I asked why I can't decide for my own wedding dress, she just looked me in the eyes and told me that I don't have to worry about a thing.

A knock on my door stop my mind from wondering elsewhere and Polly step inside.

"Hello, Piper. You look amazing!" she said then kissed me in the checks.

"Hi, Polly. Thank you. I, myself, can't believe in how I look today." I said then twirl in front of her.

"I want to say congratulations but I can't. I just wish I can do something for you." she said to me teary-eyed.

"Don't worry about me. I accepted already my fate. Besides this course of direction I have right now happened also to my parents, so nothing is new to me." I said heavily.

Polly hug me and pat my back to comfort me. I just lean to her to assure that everything will be fine.

Another knock interrupted our silent moment I have with my best friend.

"Hello, Polly. Can I talk to Piper?" Cal said when he opened the door. Polly nodded and left us. After making sure that the door is locked, Cal opened his arms and I strode towards him.

"I'm sorry." Cal whispered to me and by the way his shoulders are slumped, he is holding his tears.

"Nothing to worry, Cal. At least I'm not marrying someone with a bulging stomach." I tried to put humor in my voice.

"I don't like drama but remember that if you need anything as in anything, I'm just right here." He said not looking at me.

"Don't worry, I will remember that." I said then hugged him tighter. Afterwards he walked out of the room and I was alone by myself.

"Ms. Piper, the wedding will start now in a few minutes."

I closed my eyes for a minute then stand and started to walk towards the uncertainty.


I tried straightening my bow tie but it won't budge. I wanted to wear a dress but Nicky has another thing on her mind. She volunteered to be the one in charge for the clothes in the wedding, stating that she wanted me to have a surprise in my own wedding. I wanted to protest but Red insisted that I let Nicky to have this responsibility as my best man. I was apprehensive at first to let her because I know Nicky loves to have a good laugh in my expense. And boy oh boy! I was right! Everyone that is part of the entourage is downing the clothes Nicky picked for them properly except me. I think I look horrible in my suit.

"No. You don't look horrible in your suit and I could attest to that. Look at those girls over to the left. I think they wanted to rip the suit right now." Nicky whispered to my ears.

"Are you a mind reader also, Nicky? And I think you are hallucinating." I asked sharply then looked at the women over the other line to see if Nicky was right and somebody winked at me.

"See? I told you. And because you will be married in minutes later, can I have my way with those girls?" Nicky asked me. I just nodded because I'm not actually interested in any girls shooting glances at me.

"Oh right. You are only interested in one girl now." Nicky said with a meaningful looked at me. I eyed her questioningly but she said nothing.

"Ms. Alex, do you want to start it now?" the wedding planner asked me.

"Yes." I answered briefly then started to walked when the door opened for me.


I'm really not a religious person but I'm a typical girl that is always dreaming about my dream wedding. I know that it sounds cliché but I would like to have a wedding in a chapel or a church because of the feeling that it is very solemn and everybody is very emotional during this time. Aside from the solemnity, I wanted it to be private. Only those people who have intimate relationship with us will be invited in the wedding.

After that I wanted to have a wedding dress that every girl in the world will be envious with. I wanted to have a white wedding dress that has so many frills and has a long train that could be used as a blanket by 20 people.

I wanted the church to be full of flowers and butterflies flying everywhere. I wanted color blue and white to dominate the church. I don't know what will be the other decorations of the church but I wanted it to be perfectly accentuated with flowers. I wanted the little girls to toss flowers in my path while they are walking.

Of course, I want my husband to be perfect. I wanted him to wear a perfect suit that will make sure that he will look gorgeous in it then I will walked to him teary-eyed and full of love in my eyes. After a very solemn vow we will kiss for the first time as man and wife.

"Ready?" the wedding planner asked me with a smile. I opted to nod because I feel that my voice will leave me. I could hear the wedding march when the door of the chapel opened and I was awed in what I saw. Of course there are flowers everywhere but what standout the most is the color of the flowers. Instead of going for the white, the florist opted to have all the colors possible and arranged them elegantly. The little girls are showering the path I will walked with red petals of roses and the dresses of the entourage is beautiful even if they have individual shades.

At least the "groom" is wearing a suit, making everything more perfect than ever. Is she wearing a bow?

As I walked down in the aisle, I could not stop myself from looking at Alex. To my surprise the suit not only perfectly fir her but also makes her one of the best dress groom I have ever seen. Her hair is not put in a bun but made into big waves that emphasize her beautiful face which has a small amount of make-up in them.

And I'm sure that her lips are naturally red.

"Will you shut up? I need to concentrate in walking here as you can see." I said to my conscience.

Concentrating? You are actually leering at her.

I tighten my hold in my bouquet when I felt how intense Alex is looking at me.

I just wish that the intense gaze will say something more.


"You don't have to melt her in your eyes, Vause. Later in your honeymoon, I know that you could look at her more." Nicky said to me teasingly.

"Will you shut up, Nichols?" I'm only looking at her to check if everything is perfect for the moment." I said hiding the blush I'm sporting.

"Then why are your ears red from the way she looks at you?" Nicky said after a few minutes. I opted to clip my mouth and say nothing.

Well, you can't hide the fact that you find her gorgeous in her wedding dress. The wedding dress perfectly fits her. She really rock anything even with a small amount of make-up. I just hope I can keep my hands off her while the wedding is happening.

"You pick 'em nice, Nichols." I said to compliment Nicky and to take her attention away from me.

"Anything for you, Vause." Nicky answered smugly.

As a kid shaping to be the next CEO to our company, I don't have time to dream of my own wedding. Although my mother and grandfather are not strict when it comes to relationships, I would rather use my spare time learning the inner works of the company than the inner works of the heart. After coming to terms with my sexuality, the dream about wedding become slimmer for me.

But right now even without my dream wedding I know that it is somehow perfect.

How about your heart? Does it feel the solemnity of the wedding?

I felt the hollowness in my heart but I ignored it when Piper is already in front of me.

"Ready?" I asked smiling at her. She nodded in me and we walked in the altar.


I really don't really hear what the man in front is saying to us. It's just like I'm in an auto-pilot. All I know is Alex' hands soothing me whenever she sees that I'm a bit fidgety with everything is happening to us. Beforehand Alex told me that the vows is unnecessary for the ceremony which I agreed with all my heart because whatever happens to this marriage I want to reserve to the one I love.

"Alex Vause, do you take Piper Chapman as your wife?" the man asked solemnly.

"I do." Alex answered sincerely.

"Piper Chapman, do you take Alex Vause as your wife?" the man asked me then looked at me. Alex looked at me with unreadable expression but I could see the sharp of her gaze in me.

Something pinched my heart when I remembered that this marriage is just a union of two people for the sake of a company. That everything I'm seeing right now is just for a show. The perfection I'm seeing right now is for nothing.

"Is this really the life I want?"

I looked at Cal and my mother then breathe deeply. I just hoped that I'm doing the right thing. I just hope that after everything that will happen between me and Alex, I will still be whole. I don't want to be lost and broken once again.

"I do." I answered briefly.