The flight had been uneventful. She had received several emails from Robin outlining his vision for the future and her role both with his company and Barney. Alex was excited. She was able to see a future offering the kind of opportunity she had dreamed of when in college, but more than that, she would be able to achieve these dreams with her friends. Robin had assured her Nicky's job was safe, in whatever capacity she wanted it to be, and that Boo would be able to fill in any gaps Alex's new position opened up.

By the time the plane was circling over JFK though. Alex felt a knot in her belly she knew had nothing to do with excitement at her new job. but rather fear of what would be waiting for her when they touched down. She had been too scared of the answer to ask Piper to meet her flight. She knew they had to meet and soon, but maybe a crowded airport lounge was not the place. She couldn't deny though she was hoping Piper would be there, stood beside Nicky, wanting to see her as much as Alex herself wanted it.

Making her way off the plane Alex switched her phone back on and was rewarded with several messages from her friend.

We are here. Nx

Get your ass off that plane I am bored of waiting! N x

Alex smiled. 'We', Nicky had said 'we are', did that mean Piper was with her? Picking up her pace Alex walked through customs and out through the doors to a sea of expectant faces. She did not have to search though as a loud voice shouting "Hey Al, over here!" had her smiling. There was Nicky bouncing up and down, hair flying, as she waved enthusiastically. As her gaze slid from Nicky's enthusiastic welcome however, she was greeted not by Piper but by the sight of Boo, looking bored and on her phone. Trying not to hide her disappointment Alex rushed forward and was rewarded with Nicky pulling her into a tight hug.

"Thank fuck you are home! Not only have I had enough of being boss and want you to cut the crap and get back in the office, but this one has being doing my head in for the past hour."

Alex pulled back a little to smile down at Carrie. "Hey Carrie," she grinned, its an unexpected surprise to see you here." She gave the stout woman a hug before releasing her and saying seriously "you have no idea how glad I am to be home and how much I owe you guys. I have a lot to tell you."

Carrie shrugged, "we know about Bracken buying into Barney. What we want to know is if that bitch is getting her foot in the door?"

Alex shook her head. "No. Look, lets go get a coffee, I will give you a brief run-down to answer your questions then I need to go ride. Being cooped up on that plane for hours was like torture, and there is someone I need to go see." Alex saw Nicky smile and knew she thought Alex meant Piper. Not bothering to correct her she walked toward a coffee shop and pointed to an empty table. "Go sit, I'll get the drinks."

Soon the 3 women were sat talking business with Moo and Nicky firing questions at Alex until she said "OK, enough. I need to get out of here. Is the bike parked with the car?"

"Yes" Nicky smirked. "I had Boo bring the car and I rode on your precious machine so she is perfectly safe. You want us to take your bags to your house?"

Alex nodded. "Just park the car out front, leave the bags in the trunk is fine, I will not be out all night, I can sort them when I get back." Turning to hug Nicky again she whispered "Thanks Nick!" As she squeezed her tight then turned to Boo who took a step back,

"Enough mushy stuff. Lets go." She dismissed causing Alex to look curiously at Nicky.

"She is in a rush because she has a new lady friend!" Nicky sniggered. "I had to prize her out of bed to get her here this morning as it was. It must be serious as she wouldn't even come clubbing with us the other night."

Alex smiled. She had missed her friends. She had not been gone that long but hearing snippets of their news, how life had been going on without her, made her realise just how much they meant to her. Her smile became a grin as she saw her beloved bike, black and shiny waiting next to her car. Shoving her bags at Nicky she held out her hand for the keys and climbed on happily.

"I have your helmet in the car." Nicky shouted over the noise of the bikes roar.

"Not today Nick. Today I need the wind." And with a wave Alex carefully manoeuvred the bike past them to the exit. The two women heard the engine roar as Alex turned onto the street and with a sigh Nicky turned to Boo.

"She was disappointed wasn't she?"

"What, why?" Boo looked blank.

Nicky frowned "If you took your nose out of that phone for a second you would have seen her search the crowd and her face drop when she knew Piper wasn't her. She was disappointed."

Boo shrugged. "So why didn't you tell her why? Its not Pipers fault."

O0o

Piper glanced at her watch again. She would have landed by now. She looked at her phone but no messages. But then why would there be. She sighed. As the door swung open and Polly was wheeled back into the hospital room Piper jumped up. "Well? Is everything OK?"

Polly nodded relief now evident on her face. "Yes. They said the fall didn't do any harm and the pain was just my body practising or something. Whatever it was though they want me to stay in piper. It means I have to be here a week so I am not going to be able to help with the order. I'm really sorry Piper."

"Oh Polly, don't even think about work." Piper smiled as she sat beside her on the bed leaning forward to hug her friend. "We were going to get someone to come help us anyway so now seemed the perfect time!" She stood up. "Right I am going to go back to your get you some things so you don't have to stay in that hospital gown then call Pete who is no doubt going frantic!"

"Serves him right for going away." Polly muttered.

Piper smiled "Hardly his fault Pol. Now you get some rest and I will be back soon."

"Thanks Piper." Polly smiled.

Leaving the hospital Piper made her way to the car. She sent Pete a quick text so he knew that both Polly and the baby were OK before heading over to Polly's house. Gathering nightclothes, and toiletries Piper began to think about the work she now had to organise. She really would need to find someone to help her as even though Polly had not been doing much of the physical work lately she knew she would not be able to do both. As she headed for the door her phone began to ring. Grabbing it hastily, hoping it was Nicky or better still Alex she frowned seeing Pete's name. Talking to him as she headed back to the car she knew she was hoping for something that wouldn't happen. If she wanted to talk to Alex she would have to make the first move.

~0~

"Piper! Hi, I wasn't expecting you was I?" Nicky looked frazzled as she shuffled paper around searching for her diary.

"No," Piper smiled. "Sorry I can see you are busy nick. I just, well, I wanted to go see Alex. She isn't home though."

Nicky shock her head. "She went off on the bike said she needed to feel the wind in her hair. I had thought she might come see you though she said…" Nicky broke off with a sigh. "Look Piper she said she was going to see someone OK, I had thought it was you to be honest, she seemed disappointed you weren't there. But if she hasn't been to see you and she is on the bike I am guessing Beryl."

Piper remembered the older lady Alex had introduced her too not long after they had met, how Alex had said Beryl had been there for her when her mother had died and she knew Nicky was right.

"Thanks Nick." she grinned turning to leave.

"Hey, blondie, you going after her?" Nicky looked hopeful.

Piper smiled, "we need to talk, and maybe a neutral setting is just the thing we need." She waved as she exited the office leaving Nicky grinning after her.

O0o

Smiling as she watched Alex lick the spoon clean and drain her coffee mug beryl spoke. "Better?"

"Yes!" Alex grinned, "I purposely didn't eat on the plane so I could come straight here!" she admitted. "And it was worth the wait!" She sat back as she watched beryl refill her coffee, she knew the questions were coming but she was relaxed and full and happy to indulge the woman sat before her. However she was not expecting the words that left Beryls mouth.

"You are here alone Alex, I told you I wanted to see that pretty girl with you. Where is she? Please tell me you have spoken to her, sorted the mess between you out."

Alex looked at her hands holding the mug and shook her head. "No, I was kind of hoping she might meet me at the airport, I guess she is still upset."

"Alex have you explained any of this to her since we last spoke?"

Again Alex shook her head.

"Then why did you expect her to meet you? Maybe if she knew what had been going on at least that may have made her think. But if the last she heard was you admitting you had a relationship with that woman then you disappear then I am not sure I can really blame her."

Alex looked at Beryl. "Do you think she will believe me though? That I went there for us I mean.?"

"Why shouldn't she? But you have to tell her everything Alex, you have to face what happened in the past and then maybe you can leave it there."

Alex nodded. "I have started to do that." she admitted and proceeded to explain to beryl the meetings she had had in London culminating in the airport meeting with Robin Bracken.

"So he has known all along his wife was cheating on him?" Beryl frowned. "Why put up with that?"

"Well it seems he has also uncovered some fraud that Sylvie is involved in. I got the impression he intends to do more than divorce her. She has no idea she is about to loose everything."

"Couldn't happen to a nicer person!" Beryl muttered. "OK, so what's your plan then. You have got a plan haven't you?"

Alex shrugged. "What I really wanted was to go away with Piper, somewhere nice, just the two of us, no work no pressure. I thought then in a neutral setting we could talk. Reconnect… sounds corny." Alex knew she was blushing.

Beryl smiled and patted the tall woman's hand. "No it doesn't sound corny sugar, it sounds like a plan to get the woman you like to listen and maybe if you go tell her this she will agree."

Alex smiled ruefully. "And if she says no?"

"Then come up with another plan. You cant give up on something if it is what you want, you of all people know that. This girl makes you smile. In fact I think she is just what you need. Which is just as well."

"It is.. why?"

"Because if I am not very much mistaken she has just gotten out of a car and is heading this way!"

Beryl grinned as Alex spun round slopping her coffee down her front in her haste eyes wide as she watched the door open and a nervous looking Piper enter.

"Take a deep breath," she laughed handing Alex a napkin, "I will go bring her over."

Leaving a very flustered Alex mopping helplessly at the coffee stain, Beryl moved quickly rounding the table to intercept Piper by the door.

"Well look whose here! Welcome back."

"Hi, err… I was wondering if… I mean I was looking for…"

"She is over there sugar, go catch up and I will bring you some food." Pushing a slightly stunned Piper in the direction of Alex, Beryl busied herself behind the counter. She smiled as she saw Piper place a hand on Alex's shoulder, a smile which grew as she saw the look of pure happiness on Alex's face as she met Pipers gaze.

"Hey." Piper said softly. Suddenly at a loss for words.

"Hey." Alex echoed. "How did you know I was here?"

Piper smiled. "Nicky." She answered simply.

Alex frowned "I didn't tell her I was coming here."

"No, and she had thought you were coming to see me, but realising you hadn't she guessed this is where you'd be. It made sense."

Alex nodded not sure what to say so settled on the words that had been going round in her head for days, "I'm sorry Piper."

Piper smiled nodding "I'm sorry too. I handled it badly Al, I know that. It is just everything seemed to happen all at once. I didn't want to believe her."

Alex snorted. "Yeah she has a way of convincing people." Shaking herself mentally she looked at Piper. It felt like forever since she had seen her, her blue eyes filled with concern as she looked back across the table Alex reached tentatively for Pipers hand. "Its over Pipes, she wont be able to mess with you again."

"No? what happened in London Alex?"

Before Alex could answer though Beryl appeared with more coffee and a plate of pie for Alex and another for Piper. Not speaking she moved away causing Alex to chuckle. "I'm sorry," she grinned at Piper, "but this must be killing her!" Composing herself she said seriously. "I meet Sylvie, but I am sure you knew that from the picture she sent you. She told me she wanted to get back with me," Alex saw Piper pale, "Oh it was a lie!" She assured her quickly, "I think she wanted to just play power games with me, let me know she could mess with me, with us. But what she did not anticipate was the fact she had pushed too far this time. Messing with me; well I was used to that, she had done it often enough in the past, but involving you well that was not right. So I met her, saw she had no specific plan and then I met with her husband!"

"You did? But he is the man in charge isn't he?"

Alex nodded. "Yes, and I figured I had nothing left to loose. I had walked away from my job and I wasn't sure if you would ever believe me, so it seemed like a risk worth taking. And it was Piper. He already knew or suspected her of all I told him plus loads more. We spoke about the past, he offered me a job."

Pipers eyes widened. "You said yes?"

Alex nodded. "Its a long story Pipes, maybe a story I should have told you a long time ago, but it is what I have always wanted."

Piper smiled nodding. She looked down at the pie, untouched, before her pushing it with her fork, not sure what to say. Scared if she spoke she would either beg Alex to not take the job or that she would simply burst into tears. Instead she said quietly "Polly is in hospital. I need to find some help at Popi's."

"She is OK?" Alex asked concern in her voice.

"Yes" Piper nodded. "She had a fall. Slipped getting out of the shower this morning then she started getting pains. She has had a scan everything is OK. But Pete is away on a course for work so she was alone. That's why I couldn't come to the airport." Piper admitted quietly. "I was at the hospital."

"Nicky knew? She knew where you were?" Alex sounded indignant now.

"Yes, I asked her not to mention it though, we didn't know what they would say."

Alex nodded, a little put out her friend had not at least mentioned Piper had intended being there.

Piper looked at her watch "I had better go actually I promised her I would call in tonight."

Alex blinked, more than a little shocked at Pipers sudden rush to get away. She reached her hand out to catch Pipers before she moved. "Talk to me Pipes, what's wrong?"

Piper just shook her head. Determined not to cry in front of Alex. I'm Glad you are back, that we got to talk a little, I just have to go." She muttered and left a stunned Alex staring after her.

"What did you say?" Beryl demanded as she watched Piper leave and saw the stunned expression on Alex's face.

"I'm not sure." Alex admitted. "I thought it would be OK. She said her friend is in hospital, she had wanted to come meet me but couldn't. I told her about Bracken, how he knew about Sylvie, that it was over. I told her he offered me a job and I had said yes."

"And you told her the job was here didn't you?"

Alex looked confused, "Of course its here."

"But you told Piper that?"

"Well no but why would I need too?"

"Because Alex you have just flown in from London where you were offered a job! My guess is she thinks you are leaving."

Alex looked stunned. "Fuck!" She muttered. She looked to the door but Pipers car was already gone. Grabbing a wad of notes form her wallet she threw them on the table and kissed Beryls cheek. "I'll see you soon!" she called as she dashed out the door.

Beryl stood watching her go shaking her head.

O0o

A/N: OK so it seems Monday updates are all I am going to manage, but better than nothing right? Thanks so much for all the messages. This little mishap is just that, little and a misunderstanding, Alex will sort it out, fear not! ;-)

Thanks again for continuing to read and letting me know what you think! A x