"You look like you haven't slept." Nicky frowned Sunday morning as she watched Alex slump onto her sofa.
"I haven't." Alex groaned.
"You ill?" Nicky took a step back as if Alex was suddenly contagious.
"No I'm not ill! Alex snapped. "I should be sectioned for listening to you, but I am not ill."
"What have I done!" Nicky was indignant.
"You sent me round to Pipers. You told me to be myself."
"And?" Nicky wondered what on earth had gone wrong to get Alex this distraught.
"And I held her hand." Alex muttered in disgust. "I am not a hand holding person Nick, yet I held her hand as we walked to my place. Then I sent her a good night text. Oh Jesus." Alex shook her head.
Nicky was biting her lip trying not to laugh. Finally composing herself Nicky ventured "It is hardly a marriage proposal boss, I am sure she wont be expecting candlelit dinners and flowers. I take it you had a nice evening."
"Yes." Alex muttered with a shrug. "We ordered pizza, watched a dvd, then I took her back to Polly's."
"Why didn't she stay at yours?" Nicky was curious why, when presented with the perfect opportunity, Alex hadn't capitalised on it.
Alex shrugged, "I don't know it didn't feel right."
"But you regret it don't you." Nicky grinned it was a statement not a question, not needing to see Alex's reaction to know she was right. "Look you two have been dancing around each other for weeks now. I am guessing she did not object to you holding her hand?"
Alex shook her head no.
"And the text? Did she reply?"
"Not last night." Alex admitted failing to also admit she had sat staring at her phone for over an hour willing piper to respond. "She did this morning; thanking me for the pizza and for helping."
Nicky shook her head. "It is like watching a couple of teenagers!" she muttered. "OK, how about we go over to help her today, Lorna is working, again! But we can go shift furniture then meet Lorna for lunch, just casual."
"I don't know." Alex hesitated.
"OK well the other option is we take her out again get her drunk, or better yet get you drunk, and you can make your move then."
Alex glared.
"I am not sure why you are making this so hard on yourself. She likes you OK, she wouldn't be willing to make you cake or buy you breakfast if she didn't. She is single, but remember," Nicky grinned, "the ex will be there today, maybe she will think you are not interested and go back to him if he is willing."
Alex knew Nicky was deliberately being provocative, drawing the reaction from her on purpose but the thought of Piper spending any more time with the weak willed, curly haired waste of space was enough to get her nodding.
"Excellent!" Nicky whooped, "OK, so I will text Lorna, she gets off at 3, so go home get out of that depressing black ensemble you have on, wear something fancy and we will knock the socks off Miss Piper Chapman at The Plaza."
"No fancy, no Plaza. We collect Lorna and I will book a restaurant."
"OK your call. Lets go."
O0o
"What's she doing here!" Larry snarled as, having lugged all the furniture into the house, he followed Piper inside and on entering the living area he saw Alex leaning casually against the bedroom door.
"Larry." Piper warned.
"I mean it Piper what's going on. First she is carrying Polly home in not fit state, insulting me and being quite frankly plain rude! Then she is banging on my door demanding to know where you are. Now she is here, who is she?
"Alex." Alex stood straight and moved toward Larry hand outstretched, "Alex Vause."
Looking at Piper she grinned and looped her arm around the blonde woman's waist. "I am sorry I was rude the first time we met, I should not have cast aspersions when I had not had the pleasure of being formally introduced." She looked pointedly at Larry's jeans reminding him with that one glance of how she had insinuated he would be unable to satisfy a woman.
"What are you doing here?" Larry tried to stand taller intimidated by Alex's height and not sure if she was messing with him or was serious.
"I'm here for Piper of course. Look Pipes, Alex turned her back on Larry as if he no longer existed, and grinned at the blonde who was slightly stunned by Alex's performance, not sure if to laugh or shoo her out of the room, "I will go help Nicky sort the bedroom out for you. Don't be long." With a wink only Piper could see then a dismissive wave to Larry Alex walked towards the bedroom letting herself in and shutting the door behind her before turning and receiving a high five from Nicky who had clearly been listening at the door
"Piper?" Larry relaxed a little now they were alone but was still not exactly sure what he had just witnessed.
"What Larry? You have dropped the furniture off there is nothing else to be said."
"What's going on?"
"I am renting this place moving on with my life and I am starting by going out to lunch with Alex, Nicky and Lorna."
"Who are Nicky and Lorna?"
"Nicky works with Alex. Lorna is Nicky's girlfriend."
"You are going on a double date with that… that woman? What you are suddenly a lesbian now?" Larry was shouting.
"I am not sure what the problem is. I am single. We are no longer together and Alex cares about me."
"I'll just bet she does. And what's with this 'Pipes' your name is Piper or does she not remember that." Larry hissed.
"Well let me put it this way; you were not concerned when she told you I was ill were you," Piper hit back. She came to you thinking you would be worried, show a little concern, Alex was though. Alex found me when you couldn't give a shit and she nursed me back to health. So I am sorry if it offends you but she has been encouraging towards my business, not just humouring me, she has given up her time to help me settle here and you; well frankly Larry all you are concerned about is her dig at your manhood. Well maybe you should be concerned because quite frankly I would rather go to bed with a woman any day of the week than get back with you and be disappointed all over again. Now get out and leave me to be happy!"
o0o
The slamming of the door was the only signal Nicky needed. Her whooping and laughing replaced the silence surrounding piper and turning she was just in time to brace herself as Nicky jumped on her.
"Go blondie! Oh I wish I could have seen his face. Tell me what did he look like when you told him you would rather sleep with the boss here."
Piper laughed, "That's not exactly what I said," Piper flushed as she looked at Alex's amused expression, "but lets just say I think I have seen he last of him."
"Good riddance!" Alex muttered, "I seriously cannot see what you saw in him Piper."
"Shit for brains right?" Piper grinned.
"In his case, yes" Alex nodded laughing.
"OK blondie well you are set up in the bedroom we even made the bed for you. You can unpack the rest of your shit later we need to go out and celebrate!" Walking ahead of Alex and Piper, Nicky continued "I cant wait to tell Lorna, she will be so mad she missed it."
Letting Nicky walk ahead, Alex waited while Piper locked the door. As she finished Alex lent down and said softly so Nicky wouldn't hear, "So Pipes, will you come to lunch as my date? I promise you wont be disappointed."
Looking at Alex's green eyes twinkling with laugher Piper grinned.
"I would be honoured."
o0o
"Piper Chapman!"
Piper felt the voice cut through her like ice, shivering at the knowledge of what was to come her head slumped forward and she whispered "oh god, no not here." She could feel the faces of Nicky Lorna and Alex all looking at her. Looking up she whispered. "I'm sorry."
"What for?" Nicky asked confused.
"You'll see." Piper muttered. Before standing and walking toward the tall blonde woman striding towards her, hoping she could intercept her and keep her as far away from the table as she could.
"Mom." Piper said softly.
"Please tell me it isn't true."
Piper looked at her mother trying to decide the answer which would cause the least dramatic scene.
"You really want to do this here?" Piper asked hoping first and foremost her mothers sense of decorum would at least force her to take this outside.
"It doesn't matter any more does it. Any reputation this family may have had you have shot down. As you rightly point out this is a nice restaurant but you choose to flaunt whatever it is you are doing here in broad daylight for all our friends to see."
Piper rolled her eyes.
"Don't give me that look young lady," Carol Chapman glared at her daughter. "I had to hear from poor Larry about this latest fiasco, the poor man is distraught."
"Really mom, really? I find that hard to believe, hurt pride maybe but…"
"What would you know, you have showed him no respect. Your father and I have never been shown any respect."
"OK enough." Piper said grabbing her mothers arm she pushed her towards the door. Once outside she said "I owe Larry nothing! In fact if anything I did him a favour. We would not have had a happy marriage so he can now go be with someone who will make him happy. Someone who wants to sit at home and raise his kids and cook his meals. It may have made you happy mom but I want more. And lets be really honest here, were you happy? Happy knowing dad was seeing other women? Trapped at home with kids and no job to escape too? I want more mom, I thought you would understand. Now I am having lunch with friends. Lunch. Nothing more, no flaunting of anything, no debauchery; whatever lies Larry has told you. So I am going back to my friends. But I tell you what mom, if you really care what I have been doing, how I have been go to Barneys, go look on the shelves."
Turning and leaving mother staring after her piper, went back inside. Alex was watching for her and stood to meet her.
"You OK?" She asked seeing how white piper suddenly looked and guessing from the little Lorna had gathered from her meeting with Mrs Chapman that whatever the conversation had been it was not an easy one.
"Yeah fine." Piper shrugged. "I need a drink though."
Nodding Alex took Pipers hand and led her back to the table.
Nicky had already summoned the waiter and before Piper had a chance to register she had a drink in her hand and the three women round the table carried on talking as if the little scene they had just witnessed had not happened.
Piper sat quietly listening to Nicky tease Alex, she smiled at their jokes and nodded when asked if she wanted another drink, she nodded when they asked if she wanted Alex to order food for her, barely registering the actual question, just trusting these people to do what was best for her right then right now.
But she remained silent.
Silent as she processed that Larry had gone to her mother, gone to her mother knowing full well the implications. Had he followed them too? Is that how Carole had known where to find them? Looking round suddenly, as if expecting to see Larry at a table close by, she realised that everyone else was eating and talking as normal.
"Pipes you need to relax." Alex said quietly, patting her knee under the table.
"I'm sorry." Piper whispered, "I should go, I have ruined your day enough with my drama."
"Oh quit being a baby Chapman!" Nicky laughed. "You don't exactly have the monopoly on pushy rich bitch mothers, in fact mine could 'out scene' yours any day of the week. Look our food is here so just shut up and eat."
Piper looked from Nicky to Lorna who was smiling at her not from sympathy but a genuine smile of friendship. Looking next at Alex she saw concern.
"Stay." She said quietly, "please."
Nodding, offering Alex a shy smile, Piper was rewarded with an Alex Vause smirk as she said "So it must be hereditary, it seems your mother has shit for brains too…"
Piper laughed, "lets hope it is not a permanent condition."
"No kid, it's not. You made the right choice, you dumped sweater boy, you are here with us!" winking she turned her gaze to her food.
The rest of the meal was uneventful, and Piper was amused to see jut how different Nicky was when Lorna was with her.
"So Lorna," Piper smiled feeling relaxed enough finally to enjoy the company of these women who were showing her true friendship, "how on earth did you meet Nicky? I cant exactly imagine her hanging at The Plaza!"
"Well that's just where you are wrong Chapman," Nicky grinned. "That is exactly where we met."
"It is?"
"Actually," Lorna smiled, "it was the day I met you too. Nicky here came by to pick up some papers Alex had not collected after a meeting, we got talking she asked me out. Well she actually asked if I wanted to rent a room and find out why I should forget about men completely as women were far better lovers! But I ignored her brash, coarse, chat up lines and she came back an hour later with flowers, an apology and offered to buy me a drink."
"Piper was at the meeting?" Nicky looked confused as Lorna had never mentioned this fact to her before.
"No!" Lorna looked at Nicky as if sending her a silent message, "I had been showing Piper and her mom the banqueting suite." Lorna was glaring at Nicky still, trying to get her to shut up rather than start the whole wedding conversation again but Nicky was grinning,
"That big fancy suite opposite the meeting room?" At Lorna's nod she turned to grin at Alex.
"So, something you forgot to tell me?"
Alex muttered "Drop it Nick!"
"What?" Lorna and Piper frowned.
"Oh its just that Miss Efficiency here never forgets anything. Yet I am guessing the reason she failed to go pick up the transcript from that meeting, had me go pick them up when she realised, is Lorna was not the only one to see Piper there that day."
Piper was grinning now. "Serves you right!" she laughed seeing Alex squirm, "you are right," she confirmed to Nicky "She saw me. Said I had shit for brains and left!"
"Hey how was I to know the whole little performance I witnessed was an act." Alex tried to defend herself "you were all gushy and twirly and saying you felt like a princess."
Lorna laughed, "Oh I remember that. Yes, you were good!" She grinned at Piper, "it certainly worked on your mom that's for sure."
"Yeah" Piper smiled, "she likes gushy and twirly. "Piper shrugged. "Its the truth she has a problem dealing with."
"Well hey," Nicky shrugged, "lets look at this as a positive thing. If your mom wasn't so pushy you would not have been in the banqueting hall, the boss here wouldn't have lost her cool and I would not have met the lovely Lorna, so I say we raise our glasses to pushy parents!"
By the time they left the restaurant Piper had relaxed. She had really enjoyed getting to talk to Lorna in a setting other than the bar were the noise and work chatter meant you could not talk. She had picked up on Lorna's comment about meeting Nicky were she had implied this could be her first relationship with a woman. As they walked slowly down the street Nicky trying to persuade Alex they she get a cab not walk Piper smiled at Lorna, "how do you not get tired of the constant chatter!"
Lorna grinned, "she is not so bad. On her own in fact she is very sweet."
"Yeah I noticed that when we were painting." Piper admitted. "In fact now the furniture has arrived you should come round to the apartment for dinner."
"Really?" Lorna grinned "that would be cool. I loved it last time. Normally Nicky goes to a club or the bar, but dinner is nice. Grown up!"
"OK, well get my number off Nick and let me know a day you are not working. Maybe we can do coffee if you are free in the day too."
"I'd like that." Lorna smiled.
"What are you two plotting?" Nicky questioned sensing something was up.
"Nothing!" Lorna smiled and linked her arm through Nicky's, "we were just getting to know each other that's all. And Piper invited us to dinner."
"Cool. Chicken?" Nicky grinned.
Lorna laughed, "she has been raving about this chicken, you will have to give me the recipe."
"Chicken and chocolate cake!" Nicky smirked. "Alex loved Pipers chocolate cake!"
"Stop!" Piper grinned "or it will just be Lorna I invite."
Nicky clutched her chest as if wounded. Then falling to her knees she grabbed Piper. "No please, feed me too."
"OK." Alex shook her head, "Lorna I suggest you take this crazy woman home, or too a shelter, it makes more sense! I will walk Piper home and make sure no crazy ex lovers or parents are ready to abuse her. And you," she pointed at Nicky, "you can take the meeting tomorrow with Suzanne as punishment for this public act of insanity."
Watching as Lorna hailed a cab, bustled a protesting Nicky inside then calm her with a kiss Piper smiled.
"So?" Alex was stood watching Piper.
"So?" Piper was not sure what Alex was asking.
"Is it OK If I walk you home?"
Piper grinned. "Yes it is more than OK."
Nodding then reaching down and taking Pipers hand Alex began to walk. They had gone a couple of blocks before Alex spoke. "I don't do this."
"Do what?"
"This." Alex held up their linked fingers. "I am not a hand holding person. Yet, here we are. I bundled Nicky into a cab to get rid of her so I could do this."
"You couldn't do it in front of her?" Piper frowned.
"No." Alex shook her head.
"Oh." Piper wasn't sure what else to say. After a few moments Alex spoke again.
"I don't send soppy texts either."
Piper smiled this time, "It wasn't soppy, it was sweet."
"See! Sweet; I am not a sweet person Pipes."
"Well I think you are." Piper disagreed firmly. "I think you are very sweet."
When they reached Pipers apartment block Alex stopped. She turned and faced Piper, "thank you for being my lunch date."
"Do you want to come in for coffee?" Piper suddenly felt nervous, like she was 16 all over again and unsure of the cool way to act.
Alex smiled, "No. you go get settled. We can do coffee another day."
"Oh. OK." Piper smiled uncertainly.
"See you Pipes." Alex leant forward and placed a gentle kiss on pipers cheek before turning and striding away.
Once inside Piper sat on her sofa. Should she have said something else? Done something else?
Wishing she had someone to talk too, knowing Polly would be no help even though she liked Alex, Piper decided to make that coffee date with Lorna.
O0o
"She came to the restaurant?" Polly gasped shocked that so much had happened while she had gone away for the weekend. "And Larry told her where to find you?"
"He must have done, he certainly told her about Alex. He must have followed us then called my mother. I know he is Pete's friend Polly, but I swear if I see him again after this I wont be held responsible for my actions."
Polly nodded synthetically. "He must have been upset."
"Upset? No he wasn't upset his pride was hurt. Seeing Alex injured his pride. He wasn't worried about me or even missing me he was just upset when he thought I had moved on."
"And have you?" Polly asked perceptively.
"Well I told him I had," Piper chuckled. "I told him I would rather sleep with a woman than him as he was a disappointment."
"Piper!" Polly gasped, "no wonder he called Carol! Look of course he feels threatened, Alex is intimidating at the best of times, to see her at mine, then at his then at your home too."
"He has nothing to feel threatened about; we are not together, we are over. I need to forget Larry bloom and move on."
"With Alex?" Polly asked curiously. "You cant deny the chemistry Piper."
"No, maybe I cant." Piper admitted. "I like her. But I don't want to react just to prove a point to Larry or my mother. With Alex, its different Pol."
Polly smiled. "Just be careful OK."
o0o
The following week Piper fell into a new routine. The new apartment made work easy to get too. The café she had visited with Alex made the best coffee and pastries so stopping on her way she picked up an order to keep her and Polly fuelled for the morning. Susanne had finally approved all the new product ideas so production was now in full swing. It was Wednesday morning Piper received a text from a number she didn't recognise.
Hey Piper, its Lorna. Nicky's Lorna. I have the afternoon free and wondered if I could visit this amazing unit I have heard so much about. Text me back. L x
Smiling Piper sent and immediate Yes! Plus the address; then telling Polly she wouldn't be long returned to the café for more coffee, sandwiches and cake. On her return she explained to Polly Lorna was visiting and wanted a tour.
"OK," Polly frowned, "and the coffee and lunch? That's more than a casual tour?"
"She is nice Polly, I enjoyed chatting to her at lunch."
"And you want me out of the way so you can do so again?" Polly guessed perspectively.
"No, you dot have to go." Piper smiled.
"Its OK Piper, I think I can guess what's going on, I get it. I need to go to the suppliers anyway. Then I will give myself the afternoon off!"
O0o
"Hey this place is really cool. I thought Nicky was messing but she really wasn't. So that soap you made her, you really did that yourself."
Piper smiled. "Yes. I hadn't expected her to be as excited about it as she was to be honest, but I am glad she liked it."
Lorna looked around, "so you really slept here, this is where Alex found you?"
Piper nodded. "Yeah, not my finest hour. But thanks to Nicky that's behind me know. How have you found life since she moved in?"
Lorna grinned. "Great! Sure she is crazy, but we all need a little crazy right? Before Nicky I was with my guy, Christopher. In some ways I think he and your Larry have a lot in common. Christopher didn't want to marry me, not really. He wasn't interested in my dreams or plans. From the day I met Nicky I knew she was different. I was shocked how forward she was, but I cant deny I was immediately tempted. Then when she came back with the flowers, apologising well I got to thinking. Christopher never bought me flowers. He never apologised and he would certainly not have gone out of his way to welcome me into his group of friends."
Piper smiled. "She is crazy about you."
"I know." Lorna nodded. "And I am crazy about her." Smiling Lorna said "And you? Is that how you feel about Alex?"
Piper shrugged. "It is different. Alex is not Nicky."
"No thank goodness! There is only one Nicky." Lorna acknowledged.
"I like her." Piper smiled, "I think she likes me, but I don't know what to do. The other day I asked her to come in for coffee. She said no. But she had just told me she did not hold hands, she was holding mine. She said she did not send texts, she had wished me good night. I don't know what I should do. She confuses me."
Lorna was silent for a while thinking about what Piper had told her. "I haven't known Alex long Lorna admitted. In fact I have only got to know her these passed few days. She has been to our house a few times."
"She has?" Piper frowned.
"Yes. It seems she is in quite a spin because of you." Lorna grinned.
"I just don't understand her." Piper admitted. "When I first saw her, heard her talking even before I knew her, and after, she was … I don't know.. feisty. Full of opinion confident, exciting. Now I am not saying she isn't, god no. but that confidence is gone."
Lorna smiled. "Yes. Because Piper, like you she is as nervous of this."
"Why?" Piper squeak, "She has don't this before."
"Not with you she hasn't." Lorna pointed out gently. "Think about it. Before Larry I bet you had flings, nights out where you hooked up or just had fun. Well why is Alex any different because she hooked up with a woman. But when you met someone you like, really like, well it throws you a little I guess."
Piper nodded.
"Look," Lorna grinned, "I have this weekend off. Lets go back to that club Nicky is so fond of, you can bring Polly if you like we can ask the girls from Barneys, or it can just be the 4 of us. You decide. Maybe in a relaxed atmosphere you will feel more comfortable."
"You mean in a gay club."
Lorna shrugged. "Yes. A gay club where you wont feel your actions are judged.
Look, its up to you. I will tell Nicky we are going. Talk to Alex, Piper. Then if we see you there… she let the sentence trail off."
Piper knew she was right really she needed to talk to Alex.
O0o
Piper debated what to do. Should she phone, text, email or visit? After Lorna had left, promising to call Friday to make plans if necessary, Piper had paced. Eventually tidying away their lunch, as well as storing away today's products she locked up the unit and went to her car. She drove for a while, not heading home just driving. Eventually she parked outside Alex's house. Smiling as she remembered the first time she had visited and the near disastrous outcome. Piper climbed out of the car. Knocking, she waited. When there was no answer Piper looked around, there was Alex car but no bike. She glanced at her watch. 6pm. Guessing Alex was still at work piper walked back to her car. Getting in she was just about to drive away when the low throbbing sound of the motorbike engine filled the air. Watching, Piper knew Alex hadn't seen her. Waiting until she was off the bike and at her front door Piper crossed over the road.
"Hey!"
"Jeez!" Alex spun round in shock as Piper touched her shoulder. "Piper! What are you doing, trying to give me a heart attack?"
"Sorry" Piper grinned nervously, "no that was not my intention."
"Is everything OK? "Alex gaze swept her as if expecting to see something wrong.
"Yes, everything is fine. I called round because. Er, I hadn't expected to do this on the doorstep but, well, I met Lorna yesterday, we got talking."
"OK." Alex still hadn't moved, unsure what was happening.
"Alex, can we go inside?" Piper muttered feeling very much on display.
"OK." Alex nodded slowly then opening the door precede Piper inside.
"OK." Piper took a deep breath. "I am not very good at this." she muttered.
"At what?" Alex still had absolutely no idea why Piper had suddenly appeared on her doorstep.
"At asking someone out." Piper muttered.
Alex expression briefly displayed shock before being replaced by a grin. Her whole body relaxing, she leant against the wall and tilted her head. "You came to ask me out?" She quirked her eyebrow pushing her glasses up on top of her head, then taking hold of Pipers hand led her from the hall to the living room. She turned to face Piper.
"Do I need to be sitting down for this proposal?" she asked, eyes sparkly as she saw Piper grow more flustered.
"Its not a proposal." Piper hissed then seeing Alex laughing she grinned. "OK, so maybe I should of thought this through. I just enjoyed lunch the other day, so I wondered if you wanted to go out to a club with me. Nothing fancy, Nicky and Lorna will be there."
Alex looked at the serious expression on Pipers face, she knew it had taken a lot for her to come here and ask this.
"Yes Pipes," she smiled. "I would love to go to a club with you." She pulled Piper who had been awkwardly standing in front of her down, so she fell onto the cushion beside Alex.
"You would?" Piper was shocked.
"Why are yo so surprised? I am guessing Lorna told you it was a good idea."
"Well yes but I didn't expect it to be so easy."
"Easy? You nearly give me a heart attack, then act like you have a crime to confess before blurting out your proposal without asking…"
"OK, OK" Piper grimaced, "so I am not practised at this."
"You have never had to ask a girl out before," Alex smiled, "I forgive the lack of finesse."
"I've never asked anyone out before!" Piper stated firmly.
"Oh," Alex grinned "I am honoured. It gets easier." she laughed.
"Oh no!" Piper shuddered "once is my limit."
"So this is a one time only date?" Alex queried amused Piper was still so stressed.
"Lets just get this one over with first." Piper muttered.
"So charming! So flattering! How can I resist?" Alex grinned. "Well Miss Chapman, I accept your offer of a date. Should I expect you to collect me to escort me to the venue of your choosing?"
"OK enough!" Piper shuddered. "I cant do this Alex." She looked at the woman next to her and saw amusement all over her face. Moving as if to stand she was stopped by Alex hand on her knee.
"Pipes," Alex said gently. "I'm teasing. I'm sorry."
She shifted so she was facing Piper and using the hand that was not on Pipers leg gently stroked Pipers cheek tilting her head to look at her. "I'm sorry!" she whispered more seriously.
Leaning forward still staring into Pipers blue eyes, searching for a sign Piper didn't want this, Alex close the gap until her lips gently brushed Pipers.
As she felt Piper gasp slightly then lean in towards her, saw her close her eyes, Alex let the hand on Pipers knee slide slowly up to her hip shifting her slightly so her body wasn't twisted, the hand at her chin moved to hold Pipers head.
They stayed like this for several long seconds, neither moving to deepen the kiss, just savouring the closeness and tender touch. Alex reluctantly pulled away first, watching Piper closely for a reaction. As Pipers eyes opened and focused once more on Alex she smiled, the first genuine smile she had offered since arriving.
"OK?" Alex asked gently.
Piper nodded.
"So Friday?" Alex prompted gently, "how about I come to yours, we get a cab together?"
Again Piper nodded.
"Pipes, are you going to speak at all?"
Piper drew a deep breath. "I will see you Friday." she whispered, slowly pulling herself away from Alex and standing up. Standing and following her to the door Alex reached to open it.
"Piper," Alex said quietly waiting for the blonde woman to turn and look at her.
"Yes?" Piper watched Alex's face.
"Thanks for stopping by."
Piper smiled. She smiled all the way to her car, all the way home and she was sure probably in her sleep too.
Alex Vause had kissed her, and they were going on a date!
o0o
A/N: Firstly THANK YOU! so many lovely messages. So many review follows and favourites. I have been away so have not been able to reply personally to each one but I have read them all. I know this is a little later than normal but I hope I am moving in the right direction ;-)
Ali x