Standing under the warm spray of the water Alex groaned. Piper had just informed her she had not only got to second base but that she, Piper, had enjoyed it. How the hell had she slept through that!

Turning the water to cold to calm herself at just the thought, Alex wondered if Piper had plans for today. She herself had a little work to do, but nothing major having put in some hard work the previous week. With the sun shining she fancied riding out on the bike and hoped she could persuade Piper to go with her. Maybe in the relative safety of a public space they could kiss a little without the danger of getting too carried away. When she climbed out of the shower and had dressed however she found Piper on the phone frowning.

"No, I have plans. I cant."

Alex moved into the kitchen to make more coffee giving Piper some privacy. So much for a bike ride, she sighed to herself. She could hear Piper in the other room her voice sounding agitated, then silence. Deciding to see if she was OK Alex stuck her head round the door. Piper was sat on the sofa phone next to her her head in her hands.

"Pipes, what's wrong? Who was it?"

"My mom." Piper sighed.

"She wants to see you?"

"No, she demanded I attend a family gathering."

"You don't want to go?"

"No, but as usual I am not being given the choice."

"Of course you have a choice Piper," Alex frowned at how one call from her mother had Piper doubting her own independence. "You are here now right, a strong successful businesswoman. It is the weekend, you can do what you want with your free time."

"She will just come over. Its not worth the scene."

"So let her come over." Alex shrugged. "Either she can see you are here with me, or we can go out and she can deduce you were telling the truth and had plans. Unless of course you do have other plans?"

Piper shook her head, "No, no other plans. Go where?" She asked tentatively.

"Well," Alex grinned, "I was thinking while I was in the shower, we could make a picnic, go out on the bike, find somewhere quiet and make out!"

Pipers eyes widened. "OK." She nodded then grinned, "can we wait til my mom gets here first then, I want to see her face when I tell her why I cant visit!"

Alex laughed. "Sure we can, but I have a feeling that will open a whole can of worms that maybe we can postpone, for today at least."

Piper nodded, "Yes, true. But I can dream right!" She winked at Alex.

"So picnic? Yes?" Alex clarified.

"Yes!" Piper nodded enthusiastically. "In fact, I have some fruit and chips we can take; but there is a gorgeous little deli I found that does great subs, we can stop on the way. Where are we going by the way?"

"Who cares." Alex grinned. "Its an adventure." She smiled at Pipers sudden hesitation. "Come on Pipes. How often do you get up and just head off, no clue where you will end up?"

"Never!" Piper shrugged. "I mean literally never. I plan, my family are all planners, I love lists."

"Well stick with me kid!" Alex winked, "no more lists just fun today."

With a nervous smile Piper nodded and began digging out beakers and containers to carry the fruit, chips and sparkling water. Packing it carefully into a rucksack she turned to ask Alex, "Should we take a rug? Something to sit on?"

Alex shrugged, "Sure if you want. Or," she grinned cheekily eyebrow quirked, "you could wear your new top without the buttons, we could sit on that, it should be easy to take off!"

Piper swiped at the laughing Alex with a tea towel, then suddenly glancing down she said, "Do yo think I should change? Is this not appropriate?"

"No, its not appropriate." Alex looked serious. "Go change. That has too many buttons!"

As Piper lunged towards her laughing Alex, instead of ducking out of her way, grabbed Piper round the waist and swung her round. "You look perfect." she whispered as she lowered her to the ground. "Just grab some flat shoes and we are good to go."

But as Piper gazed at Alex, her arms still around Pipers waist they were interrupted by the intercom buzzer.

"Shit!" Piper pulled away guiltily, making Alex frown.

"Your mom?"

"Maybe." Piper sighed. Moving to the intercom she answered "Yes? Who is it?"

"You know who it is Piper! I told you we were coming." Piper closed her eyes at the sound of her mothers voice. Turning to look at Alex her eyes widened. Alex had picked up a jacket for Piper along with her own, she held the rucksack in one hand and keys in the other.

"Shoes." She nodded at Pipers feet. Seeing the pair of flats she had worn to the club Piper slipped them on.

"Come on." Alex grabbed her hand and hustled her out of the door. As they reached the entrance Piper saw her mother still buzzing and shouting into the intercom.

"Mom." Piper said quietly as they opened the door.

"Piper what is going on? Why are you dressed like that? Who is this? We need to leave now."

"I told you I have plans. This is Alex, Alex Vause. We are going out for the day, I did try to explain."

"Well you can cancel any plans. I am sure Alex will understand, family comes first."

Feeling Alex move to stand a little closer behind her Piper shook her head. "I am not cancelling my plans mom. Maybe next time you can give me more notice." She said calmly and she thought not unreasonably.

Moving past her mother she felt Alex touch her back gently steering her towards the bike. "That's my girl Pipes, keep walking." she said softly.

Taking the rucksack off Alex, Piper slung it on her back, she waited for Alex to climb onto the bike then quickly got on behind her.

"Piper Chapman!" Came the outraged cry.

"Quick go!" Piper squeezed Alex's waist and was rewarded by her gunning the engine and shooting away from the curb leaving Carole Chapman staring after them in disbelief. Alex drove for a few minutes then pulled over. Stopping she turned to look at Piper. "You OK?"

Piper nodded a small smile forming. "Yeah, I'm good! It is a shame we couldn't video that! I bet her face was a picture."

Alex grinned. "So deli?" She queried and Piper giving her direction snuggled back down cuddling into Alex's back loving the feeling of being rescued and not caring right then where they went as long as it took her away from her mom.

O0o

"This place is beautiful." Piper grinned as she looked at the trees and stream. "Have you been here before?"

Alex nodded, "I have never stopped though, but I like the drive up here, its quiet, the scenery is spectacular, you feel like you are looking down on the city."

Piper nodded. She took off the rucksack and then removed her jacket. Sitting down on it she sighed, "I didn't even know this place was here." Alex dropped down next to her grinning.

"That's why it is so perfect, not many people do. What would your mom say if she saw you now?"

Piper chucked. "She'd have a coronary! Sitting on my jacket, on the floor of all places." She grinned "if she saw store bought subs and potato chips I think she would put me up for adoption."

"Has she always been like that?" Alex asked curiously.

Piper shrugged, "Not when I was little. She seemed more relaxed, but when she knew for certain about dads affair, or more precisely knew I knew about it, things changed. It was as if she tried to become this perfect house wife, perfect mother. I never understood why, instead of trying to change herself, she didn't just confront him. Scared I guess."

Alex nodded, "yeah maybe. What's your dad like?"

Piper smiled. "Happy. But then why shouldn't he be, he has a wife who keeps a perfect house, lets him change his mistress every few years for a newer model without complaint and a family who have all just accepted it. He knows he is lucky so if ever we, should I say I challenge mom about why she puts up with it, he sides with her."

Alex pulled Piper close so her head rested on Alex's shoulder. "I'm sorry Pipes, it cant have been easy seeing that growing up. Knowing your mom was unhappy."

"No it wasn't, but I guess I lost sympathy when she took it out on us. But enough about her." Piper lifted her head and looked at Alex, "tell me about your mom. You miss her?"

"Yeah." Alex smiled sadly. "We were close. I mean really close. It was just me and her when I was growing up. But the older I got the better friends we became. That's why I find it hard to understand the relationship you and our mom have I guess. I was lucky I know that. And yeah I miss her. So much."

Piper heard the catch in Alex voice and straightening turned and pulled the taller woman into a tight hug. "I'm sorry Alex." Piper stroked her hair. "Sorry she died, but also sorry she didn't get to see how great her daughter turned out."

Alex swiped at a tear on her cheek and sniffed smiling at Piper. "She would have loved you. She used to tell me one day I would meet someone the exact opposite of me and it would be like meeting my other half. I look at you Piper and its like she knew we would meet."

Piper stared at Alex, her words so personal, so intimate, Piper knew she had tears in her own eyes. "I wish I had met her." she smiled.

Alex leant to pull the bag closer and grabbed some beakers and the sparkling water Piper had packed. "OK enough sappy nonsense" she grinned, "this is meant to be a fun outing. If you had wanted to be depressed you could have gone to your family gathering right!"

"Very true, I seem to remember a promise of making out!"

Alex laughed, "I am not sure what happened when I was asleep this morning, but I think I may have created a monster!"

Piper chuckled. "I was so tempted to wake you!"

"You should have done." Alex nodded seriously. "There is no better way to wake up than that."

"Really?" Piper asked, "you wouldn't have minded?"

"Why would I mind waking up in bed with a beautiful woman who wanted me?"

"Because," Piper admitted "you didn't want me the night before."

"Oh Pipes. Of course I wanted you." Alex sighed. "We had had a long day, we were both running on less sleep than normal and well, maybe I am being silly, but I want our first time together to be special, do it right, not some half hearted affair."

"And it would have been special this morning? If I'd woken you?"

Alex grinned, "if you had wanted me then yes, it would have been perfect. A little soon maybe, but perfect."

"Why do you keep saying its too soon?" Piper was sure this had never been a concern for Alex in the past.

"Because I have kissed you and it is electric. I know everything else will be too. But intense. And I need to make sure you are ready for that."

"I'm not a virgin!" Piper muttered, suddenly feeling like Alex was treating her as if she had never been intimate with another person before.

"Its different Pipes, just trust me OK."

Piper looked at Alex curiously, "have you always known you were gay?"

Alex smiled, "Yeah. From my first crush on my high school math teacher. But I also knew I couldn't tell anyone; so I dated boys, not many, just enough to keep the rumours at bay and the bullies at a distance."

"You didn't tell your mom?"

"No. She knew though. I remember the first time I went out with a boy, she sat me down and told me I didn't have to go." Alex grinned at the memory. "I thought she was just being overprotective, but she knew. Each and every time after she would do the same, tell me I did not have to bow down to peer pressure, but she was also always there when I got home, asking if I had a nice time and stuff. The first time I slept with a guy, and there were only two guys, but the first time I came home and just cried. Mom just held me. I tried to convince myself it would be better next time, I would get to like it, I mean everyone else did right. I had just started working at Barney's, I was just an assistant but I loved it. There was a girl there, her name was Mercy, she was so openly gay, so unashamed. I used to watch her, so envious as she was so honest about who she was and I was living this lie. One day she invited me, along with some other girls who worked in sales, to a club. I wanted to go so bad but I refused. I knew if I had gone I would not be able to deny who I was any more. I wasn't ready. So instead I went to a ball game with some people I knew from school. We watched the game had some beers and I hooked up with guy number 2. I was trying to prove to myself I was straight by this time, I know that. But the whole time he was touching me, kissing me I was thinking about mercy, how I should have gone with her. That night I went home and told mom I thought I was gay. She smiled hugged me and told me she knew. She said she was glad I was ready to share this with her and that as long as I was happy she did not care who I brought home."

"So was Mercy your first?" Piper asked curiously.

"No" Alex laughed. "No that dubious honour went to a woman I met in a club. She was older than me and I think she sensed fresh blood," Alex grinned, "but boy did she prove I had made the right choice."

Piper grinned. "What happened to mercy?"

Alex shrugged, "She moved on, we stayed in touch for a while, but she wasn't interested in having a career, she was after adventure. I am sure she found it too. Me, I discovered I wanted a better life than being a sales girl in a store. Then," Alex grinned "Nicky arrived, loud, mouthy and totally unashamedly gay. We did a few courses together, I realised she was actually excellent at her job once you got past the bluster. She realised I liked woman and privacy. The women, she has tried to help me increase my numbers, the privacy, she has made it her life's mission to ensure I don't get at all!"

Piper laughed knowing Alex was only half serious. "She cares for you."

"Yeah I know. In fact recently I have realised how much. She pushed me to you, you know that?"

"I guessed." Piper smiled. "She did the same to me, while warning me off at the same time. What would she say if she saw us here now?"

Alex laughed, "she would asked what the hell we were doing outside when we could be home in bed!"

"Well at least I can blame you for that," Piper grinned, "all your idea."

"Yeah, safety in open spaces." Alex nodded.

"So what is it you think will happen if we had sex?" Piper asked seeing no reason not to just ask outright now they had shared so much.

Alex frowned, shrugged and didn't answer.

"Come on Alex, you said what we had is electric, I feel it too. Are you scared I will like it too much? Or that you will drive me back to Larry, because that wont happen. I don't want him you need to know that."

Alex nodded "I do." She said quietly.

"So?" Piper prodded. Waiting for the real reason.

"Piper when I kiss you its different."

"I know I feel it too." Piper smiled.

"OK, but I mean different to other women even. It just feels…." Alex shrugged.

"It feels right." Piper finished for her.

"Yes." Alex nodded.

"So what's the problem? You scared I will want to go explore this new lesbian world?" Piper laughed. Alex didn't reply and Piper stopped laughing and looked at her. "That's it? You think I will leave?"

Alex said "maybe."

"OK look, I don't know what I will feel, but I do know one thing, this isn't a game for me either Alex. All I know is I like you, not all women, not just tall women, or even women with gorgeous long legs and shiny black hair. Just you. When we were at the club that first time, I'm not sure who was more nervous me or Polly, but when I saw you, in your tight leather pants dancing, god you looked so hot I couldn't stop staring at you."

"Is that why you got so drunk?" Alex grinned.

"Yeah one of the reasons. But when I woke the next day, found myself undressed, I kept thinking of you taking my clothes off, cursing my drunken inability to remember."

"If you remember Pipes, you took your clothes off not me!"

"Yes, well maybe I was letting the drink talk for me, say the words I was to scared to say sober. Not for Nicky, or Lorna, or any other woman there that night. Only you. You tell me it is different with women than men, OK. I bow to your wider knowledge." Piper smiled, "but I need you to know I don't care about 'women'. Only you."

Alex looked at Piper, her face so serious her blue eyes staring at Alex, and Alex knew she was telling the truth. "Come her." She smiled pulling Piper closer she leant over to kiss Piper gently and figured, for today at least, she would just see how things went.

A few slow gentle kisses later Piper pulled back. "Not wanting to kill the mood," she grinned, "but I'm starving. I seem to remember someone ate all the pancakes this morning!"

Alex grinned and grabbed the bag near her feet. "So there was me thinking you were growling with desire but it was your belly wanting chips." she teased.

Sat on the grass, the only sound the birds in the trees Piper felt relaxed for the first time in a long time. Grabbing her phone she held it in the air and leaning closer to Alex she took a photo of the pair of them, surrounded by food, the bike in the background.

"What was that for?" Alex asked curiously.

"Just so I can remember what it feels like to be relaxed." Piper smiled, "I feel I have been tense for as long as I can remember."

"Well you have split up with your fiancé, started a business and moved house," Alex pointed out logically, "its not surprising; but I am glad you like it here. I admit though when I asked you on another date I hadn't expected it to be to sit on the grass in a field."

Piper smiled, "what did you have in mind?"

"Oh I was going to charm you," Alex smirked, "a fancy dinner, candlelight, the works."

Piper grinned then shrugged, "I'd be happy with a burger and the movies." She admitted, "fancy restaurants are overrated, trust me, I have seen enough of them."

Alex smiled, laying back on the grass she gazed at the blue sky, "OK then maybe we will go to a movie, grab burgers and come back here and gaze at the stars; hows that for romantic?"

Piper giggled, "sounds perfect!" She lay next to Alex who turned to look at her.

"When?"

Piper shrugged, "you choose, other than work I have no plans."

"OK." Alex smiled leaning up on one elbow now and playing with pipers hair, "first thing tomorrow I will get Nick to check my calendar, first free evening and its a date. Now," she smiled down at Piper, "you have been fed, we have established how I am going to romance you, so how about a little kissing on account."

Piper sniggered, "so romantic!" she grinned but reaching up to loop her arms around Alex shoulders she pulled her closer closing her eyes as their lips met.

A second later Alex pulled back grinning, "that was definitely a moan of pleasure!" She said smugly, earning a gentle tap to the back of the head from a blushing Piper. "So cute when you blush!" Alex chuckled and lowered her head once more.

Piper relaxed back into the grass pulling Alex with her. Laying down and feeling Alex pressed down the side of her reminded Piper of climbing into bed last night and feeling Alex naked legs touch her own. Alex was right, this was safer. But also, Piper realised, more tortuous. She shifted closer her tongue now stroking Alex lips, wanted to feel her, needing more. Alex shifted too, she put one arm either side of Pipers head her fingers tangling in the hair they had been playing with effectively trapping Piper below her, holding her weight on her arms Alex kept her upper body just out of reach. As Piper felt Alex tongue touch her own she groaned, her hands which had been round Alex shoulders now moved to the back of Alex's head, and as the kiss deepened, became more intense, Piper tightened her hold, not wanting Alex to once more stop what was building between them. It was lack of oxygen that had Piper release her hold on Alex, gasping for breath she pulled the taller woman down into her arms kissing her neck as she tried to grab air into her lungs.

Feeling Alex shiver Piper began to focus her kisses, trailing towards Alex's ear she was thrilled when she felt Alex groan and tighten her grip as Pipers lips brushed the pulse point at her throat.

"You like that?" She whispered and Alex mumbled "mmm, yeah." Tracing the point with her tongue piper thrilled at the change in Alex's breathing then squealed when she felt Alex suddenly move flipping them so she was suddenly lying in top of Alex, her body resting down the entire length of the taller woman. "Hey! I was having fun there." Piper grinned.

Alex smirked, "yeah and you were doing a fine job, but now its my turn." Piper expected Alex to continue the kisses they had been sharing and when she felt Alex trail her hands down her hair pulling Piper closer, Piper closed her eyes in anticipation, they shot open seconds later when Alex hands continued moving, down her back until they reached her butt. Giving her a squeeze Alex slid her hands back up Pipers back but this time under her shirt. Her touch had Piper gasp and lower her head opening her eyes she stared into the two green pools watching her intensely.

"On our date," Alex whispered, "we will go in the car, you can wear a skirt and maybe that top." She grinned. Piper laughed, it amazed her how Alex could make her feel like she was going to explode one second and laugh the next.

"I'm agreeing to nothing in this state!" Piper whispered back.

"What state? Alex asked her eyes twinkling.

"Aroused!" Piper stated bluntly.

"Should we stop?" Alex asked. Her hands resting, still under Pipers top, at her waist.

Piper shook her head "no."

Smiling Alex whispered "I feel it too Pipes.

Nodding Piper lowered her head for another kiss slower this time, gentle, with no rush; Piper let herself take in the feel of Alex under her, touching her. She breathed in her scent and knew that in that moment being here with Alex Vause was the only place she wanted to be.

Piper had no idea how long the lay on the grass, kissing, talking, laughing. It was only when she began to get cold and realised the sun was going down she knew it had been hours.

"Today has gone so fast." she sighed breathing into Alex's neck before straightening up to a sitting position.

Alex stayed laying on her back, eyes closed. "Getting back on the bike means back to reality." She agreed, "I have had the best weekend Piper, thank you."

Piper smiled. "Me too. Just think what I could tell my mom, I went to a gay club, slept with and got touched up by a girl, then spent the day making out with her in the grass!"

"Yes well that girl needs a do over on the touching up part. It doesn't count if she wasn't conscious."

Piper giggled, "Next date night?"

"Oh definitely!" Alex nodded, "but the sleep over can be at mine, as much as I like your apartment Pipes my bed is bigger, so is the shower." she winked then laughed as the words registered and Piper blushed once more.

Together they gathered up there stuff, repacking everything into the rucksack. The ride back to Pipers seemed to go too fast. Climbing off Piper said "You going to come get the food we made?"

Alex nodded but Piper sensed her reluctance.

"You don't want to come in?"

"Oh I do Piper, but then I will want to kiss you and I wont want to leave. I don't want to leave. But I have work I really must do so…"

Piper nodded, she understood exactly what Alex was feeling and not wanting to end the weekend on an awkward note said, "Stay here." She run inside and grabbed the food bringing it back down inside the rucksack she had emptied so Alex could carry it easy on her ride home.

"Call me." She whispered as she stood net to Alex now back on the bike.

Alex nodded. "Later," she smiled. "Thanks for today Pipes."

With a wave Alex was gone.

o0o

"What the hell do you mean you are pregnant?" Piper stared in disbelief at her friend.

"Its not unheard of Piper." Polly shrugged. "I did the test this weekend. Pete's, thrilled! We both are." she said pointedly. "I had hoped my best friend would be too."

Piper sighed, "Its not that I am not happy for you Polly, but the business, what about the business."

"I'm pregnant Piper, not moving to Mars. It wont affect the business."

"It might" Piper sighed. Sitting down, her good mood from the weekend, last nights good night texts from Alex, now a thing of the past, she began to explain to Polly the news Alex had given her Friday night. "So you see a baby isn't exactly conducive to international travel" she finished bitterly "and I cant see Pete being a stay at home dad!"

Polly stared at Piper her mouth gaping. "They really want out stuff! That's huge."

"Yeah it was." Piper said defeated. "I guess nothing was signed, we haven't exactly lost anything right."

Polly frowned. "Look, people have kids and still run businesses, so we may need to fine tune the dream but we can still dream Piper. So I become the head office boss and you are in charge of international deals." She smiled. "Damn it if Suzanne can do it I am damn sure I can."

Piper smiled. "Maybe. I guess we need to wait and see what they want from us first. I am pleased for you Pol. A baby! Wow that's grown up!"

Polly sniggered "Yeah that's what Pete said. He wants to get married," she smiled. "In fact he wants to move too. Get a house with a yard near good schools."

Piper grinned, "Well it was your dream."

"Did Alex say when we would hear?" Polly asked

"No, she said Nicky would call though so I guess we can just carry on as normal until we hear different, no point ordering new supplies if they wont be needed." So together Polly and Piper began setting up for the week, Piper was a little relieved Polly was so consumed by her own news she was not quizzing Piper on her own weekend.

At lunch time Piper decided to go buy them a treat to celebrate Polly's good news and since her drinking days were now over a trip to the local bakery for something sweet seemed the perfect choice. Returning 20 minutes later carrying a box of varied pastries Piper was met by Polly grinning and looking, Piper realised, very smug.

"What?" She asked knowing something had happened in her absence.

"Nicky called."

"They have heard, about the contract?"

"I have no idea," Polly smirked "Nicky called to arrange a date for her boss. It seems miss Alex Vause would like the pleasure of your company on Friday evening."

"Oh." Piper muttered, she hadn't expected that.

"So? That's all I get an 'oh'. Piper I want gossip! How did the date go Friday? Nicky seems to think it went OK, but she said Alex is being tight lipped and would only say you were going out next weekend. What happened?"

"We went to the club, it was good." Piper smiled, "we didn't stay as late this time."

"And?" Polly prodded, knowing she was missing something.

"And nothing."

"Come on Piper, my social life is about to hit the rails, I will be living vicariously through you, I need details."

"I am not giving you details Polly. And I am guessing Alex feels the same if Nicky had none to give you."

Polly frowned. "Well what are you doing Friday? If she only gave you a date then you must have already made plans."

"Yes we have, movies and a burger."

"Wow!" Polly sneered sarcastically, "high living."

"No, what I wanted." Piper shrugged. "Listen I like her OK, that's all you need to know. Now why don't you phone Nicky back and see if they have heard about the contract, surely that's more important."

Watching Polly pull a face as she went to make the call Piper returned to her work bench, so much for a gossip free morning she thought. 5 minutes later Polly walked out of the office area and handed the phone to Piper, eyebrows raised in a challenge.

"Hello?" She said tentatively.

"Pipes hey!"

"Hi!" Piper grinned at the sound of Alex voice and saw Polly smirk. Turning her back on her friend she concentrated on her call. "Is everything OK?"

"Yes, I am guessing Polly has been giving you as hard a time as Nick has me?"

"Well not until she spoke to Nicky no, but now I am guessing it is Nicky she is frantically texting. I had got her to call about the contract, to see if there was any news."

"Yes Pipes the deal is on." Alex said and Piper was sure she could hear the smile in Alex's voice.

"Great." Piper replied.

"That's it?" Alex had expected Piper to be ecstatic, this was her dream coming true but excited was the last thing she sounded. "Pipes what's wrong?"

"Polly didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what Pipes? What's happened."

"Polly is pregnant. Alex this changes everything."

"Why?" Alex said genuinely puzzled.

"Because I am assuming at some stage we would have to travel, you cant do that pregnant or with a kid in tow."

"No, but its Polly's kid not yours, surely you could do the overseas meetings, you don't need her to hold your hand. Piper, you cant give up now. Look at what you have achieved."

"I know." Piper said quietly.

"Look I have given Polly the details of the meeting, its Friday at 4. I wanted to speak to you to say why don't you drop a change of clothes at mine on Friday on your way to work, then we can got to mine after the meeting then straight to the movies."

"OK." Piper knew she was grinning. "Sounds good. More than good."

"Yeah?" Alex smiled.

"Definitively. Friday seems a long way away though." She sighed.

"Yeah I know Pipes. Look, I am busy here today will be late I am guessing. But maybe if things ease up we can catch up in the week?" Alex heard herself make the suggestion and knew it was out of character, relieved Nicky wasn't there to witness her behaviour, she waited for Pipers response.

"The order, is it likely to be big?"

"Depends what you agree." Alex frowned this wasn't the answer she was expecting.

"OK. Well I guess until Friday I am on a normal work schedule then." Piper mused. "So how about I text you Wednesday, see how busy you are. If you can get away I will cook you dinner. You can choose what you want."

"Yeah?" Alex knew she had a grin on her face. "Hmm I will have to think about that offer!"

"You will text me?" Piper asked hoping she didn't sound too needy.

"Yes!" Alex answered without hesitation. "Later, I promise. But Nicky is hovering so I need to go. But you go get the meeting details from Polly and I will talk to you later."

"OK." Piper grinned "bye!"

"Bye Pipes." Alex disconnected but Piper sat grinning for several minutes before standing and going to talk to Polly.

"So?" Piper asked.

"Well it sounds good. The meeting is more their hopes, we can dictate what we do Alex said. She seemed confident didn't she."

Piper shrugged. "Maybe." She did not want to admit they hadn't discussed the meeting at all. "Do you think its possible?"

Polly nodded, "I didn't mention I was pregnant, did you?"

"Yes!" Piper nodded. "We need to be honest Polly and Alex seemed to think it shouldn't be a problem. I guess the big think is how much stock they will want and if we can supply it."

"Piper think about it. The two of us can fill Barney's order. This new order will bring in more money. If we have to hire another person the money may cover it and if you need to travel we make sure that's covered too."

Piper nodded. She was scared to get excited. Alex had mentioned Europe. England. She was so scared to hope and even if she did the thought of going alone seemed massive.

"Lets get Friday out of the way first." she smiled.

o0o

That night Piper was getting ready for bed, she had spent a lot of the day thinking about the possibility of travelling, about finally getting to see some of the places she had dreamed of. Something in her had changed though. She realised when she thought of going to England now she couldn't deny a small part of her imagined Alex by her side. As she climbed into bed she reached for her phone. Reading the messages that had passed between her and Alex throughout the afternoon. Mostly Alex moaning about Nicky, but they still made Piper smile. Unable to resist Piper sent one more message before she fell asleep.

Just wanted to wish you sweet dreams. P xx

She grinned when 10 seconds later her phone lit up.

You too Pipes, sleep well tonight. I'm looking froward to whispering those words to you Friday night! A xx

Piper knew she was blushing, felt the thrill go through her as she read the promise in the words, knew that was Alex's intention. She sat staring at her phone for several seconds before sending one last message.

I am looking forward to it too! After last time its the waking up I am looking forward too ;-) P xx

o0o

A/N: So many lovely reviews and messages. Thank you all! I am posting this Monday morning after a 2 week break from work, partly because this story makes me smile and I need to feel that this morning and hope you all do too, but also because I need to say now work is about to hit updates may slow a little. I hope you all stick with me though, I will be updating that's a promise!

Ali x