Chapter 26:

"Good Morning."

A month and an half after the encounter with Kubra, Alex still had trouble sleeping. She had developed sleep paralysis, which had made her terrified to go bed, even if Piper was at her side, holding her. She would dream about him slipping in their room in the middle of the night and restraining her again, and she was completely unable to move or scream. She often wondered if Piper dreamed about him too, since she was the one to press the trigger. The blonde didn't seem to be showing any sign of fear or remorse though. Alex was glad; better be her than Piper.

Alex had an appointment with a therapist once a week where she could talk about all the stuff in life; the good and the bad. Sometimes she'd bring Piper too. It made Piper really happy that she was letting her in like that. This helped them communicate and share a lot more. It brought them even closer.

They had moved in into a new apartment just last week. Alex had convinced a landlord that she would be able to pay on time and that her past wouldn't get in the way anymore. Piper was convinced the landlord had a crush on Alex, and she wouldn't even be surprised if Alex flirted with her a bit to get it. She didn't care though. Their new home was in the heart of Manhattan, and although it didn't have a breathtaking view on Central Park, it was at a short 10 minutes walk and didn't have a sight of dumpsters through any of the numerous, large windows. Their bedroom occupied the whole second story and thus they had plenty of space for Alex to have a desk and for them to share a large king size bed that was very useful to make Piper cum in every position she'd like.

On a chilly winter day, Piper slowly rose from sleep, and before she even opened her eyes, she became aware of the sound of fingers typing on keyboard. A chill went through her body and she reached for the blanket to cover herself. She moved on her side, hoping to wrap an arm around a slumbering brunette, but her hand hit the cold mattress. She frowned, groaned, and then her eyes fluttered open. She rubbed her eyes with her fist and saw the raven-haired beautiful at her desk, typing on the keyboard of her laptop as the sunlight illuminated her features. Piper looked at the clock: 7:20am. Alex was probably up for hours now.

Piper moaned softly as she stretched her limbs. Alex spun on her chair and looked at her smiling. "Good morning."

"Morning. The bed is freezing without you in it," Piper remarked and tapped the mattress with her hand.

"I bet, it's snowing outside," Alex told her and stood up. Piper tossed the sheets away to give her room to enter. The brunette wrapped the sheets around her and Piper. She pressed her forehead on Piper's and closed her eyes.

"You had trouble sleeping again baby?" Piper caressed her hair with her fingers. "I wish there was something we could do about this."

"It's terrifying Pipes. I close my eyes and suddenly I'm aware of everything that's happening except my whole body is paralyzed and I can't speak. Then I start hallucinating some crazy shit. I scream for you to run, but He always gets to you." Alex kept her voice low as she confessed to Piper. "You must think I'm crazy."

"Absolutely not. It's totally understandable with what we went through. However, I do think that maybe you should get some help, you know, maybe get in contact with someone that could help you cope with this. Your therapist is great, but it's not really her field of experience," Piper suggested. "I hate seeing you go through this."

"I will look into that," Alex said. "Having you here with me definitely helps with that though. I don't know what I would do if I'd wake up and you would not be there to tell me it's okay. I would probably believe something happened to you and go crazy."

"I don't have nightmares about it, but it occupies my mind a lot. Sometimes I can't deal with the fact that I have ended another human being's life and I can't breathe. But then I try to remember that it was so that we could have this second chance at life. And I think about all the wonderful things that will happen to us, all the beautiful memories that we'll make. And it grounds me."

Alex's smiled and pulled her fiancée into a kiss. It was very intimate and playful, and didn't necessarily have a sexual intent—it didn't need to. They continued like this for a moment, until they were interrupted by Alex's phone.

"Ugh I almost forgot there was a world outside." Alex grabbed her phone on the nightstand and slid the touch screen. "Hello?"

"An inmate from Litchfield federal correctional facility is trying to contact you. To accept this call press 1," came the voice from the machine. Alex pressed one.

"Hey Vause, hope I am not disturbing your pussy eating feast on this lovely wintery morning," A familiar voice spoke. Nichols.

Alex grinned. "Hold on I'm going to put you on speaker, I'm with Piper." She put the phone between them.

"Hi Nicky! How have you been," Piper asked with enthusiasm, She had not heard of Nicky since she had gotten out of prison and missed her terribly.

"Aw you know, same old."

"Has Lorna gotten tired of you yet?" Alex joked.

"Has Piper gotten tired of you yet?" Nicky retorted playfully.

"Impossible," Piper answered for Alex. "So why are you calling? Anything new?"

"Yeah actually, I'm getting out of this shit hole this Saturday. I was wondering if one of you love fool could maybe pick me up? My lawyer as arranged for a car to pick me up at Litchfield and bring me to the city, but as you know, my mom is too busy and shit and I hoped that I could crash on your couch a couple days while I figure my shits, you know? If that isn't too much trouble."

"Absolutely not! We'll come and get you," Alex exclaimed. "I thought you had a fuck load of time left how the hell did you manage to get out?"

"That's a long story and my phone time is almost over. I'll explain this once we see each other alright?"

"Sure, no problem."

"Okay take care kids. I'll see you on the outside."

Alex hung up and then shared a contented look with Piper. They had no idea how yet, but in a couple days they would finally have a friend to hang out with and it made them really happy.

"So how's the book going?" Piper changed the subject.

"Good, good. Some parts are hard to write you know… with my mom and stuff. But it's good."

"Good," Piper repeated. "Will I get to read it soon?"

"You'll be the first baby. And my first editor." Alex said. A cheeky smile hit her lips, she knew it would make Piper super happy.

Piper's face lit up. "Really?" Alex nodded. "Awesome!"

Alex hummed. "I think it should be done right around Christmas. I'll try to find a publisher in the beginning of January. Which speaking of, it's going to be our first Christmas out together in the real world. Are you excited? You love Christmas."

Piper's lips quirked at the corners. "Mmm guess so? I don't know."

"Jeez who's the mean evil Grinch that stole away your holiday spark," Alex asked in a mocking voice.

"That would my mother," Piper replied flatly. "I have talked to her once in the past month and it was only to hear," Piper took her mother's voice, "Oh for heaven's sake Piper, I told you to stay away from that woman you could have died out there! What would people say if they knew?"

"Ouch."

"So no, I'm not exactly fond about spending Christmas because I don't have a family anymore."

"Aren't I your family, Pipes?" Alex said a bit hurt.

Piper quickly reached for Alex's face and cradled her cheek. "No no, I mean yes, but that's not what I meant. I'm just saying my biological family thinks I'm a deviant freak and they are ashamed of me now. It's not like we're gonna have this big dinner with turkey and mashed potatoes."

"But that's what friend are for right?" Alex shrugged. She couldn't quite understand why it was so important for Piper to have such a big party. Maybe it was because the only family Alex had was her mother and her aunt, and it was just all three of them every holiday, not making a big deal out of the celebration. "And Nicky doesn't have much a family either, I'm sure she'd be excited to spend it with us."

"You are right. It's going to be a great Christmas. How can it not be when every day is already great by your side?" Piper leaned in and kissed her. Alex had to roll her eyes at the cheesiness but she gave in the kiss easily.

Alex finally broke the kiss. "Can I interest you in a hot shower and breakfast?"

"Thought you'd never ask."

Alex turned the heat of the water very high and let it flow between her body and Piper's as they kissed. Suddenly she was pinned against the shower wall and Piper's hand traveled down on her wet body. Piper pushed two fingers inside Alex and with her free hand she lifted Alex's thigh and locked it around her waist, giving her more room to thrust.

"Fuck kid, you are so fucking good at this, don't stop." Alex moaned and her hips rolled with Piper's hand. The blonde lowered her head, took one of Alex nipple in her mouth and sucked on it. "Shit."

"You are so tight around my fingers," Piper growled. She added the pad of her thumb on Alex's clit, knowing it would make her come faster. "Let go I'll catch you."

The heat of the water intensified the ecstasy. A strong wave of pleasure rippled through Alex's body and she hung onto Piper not to fall.

When Alex had caught her breath, Piper withdrew her fingers.

"This is so much fun in a clean shower and hot water," Alex pointed out. She picked up the body wash. "And also, a better hydrating and better smelling soap." The one they sold in commissary were non-toxic, and for some reason that also had to mean bad smelling and irritating for the skin. "Let me wash you?" Alex asked as she poured a good amount of shower gel in a towel.

Piper turned around almost instinctively and let Alex bathe her. She loved how Alex gave attention and care to every bit of skin on her body and made it so sensual. When Alex's hand slid on her thigh just beside her private parts, Alex paused and tapped her fingers, requesting permission. She knew she didn't need too, but she did it by pure reverence for her fiancée. Piper gave her a soft nod. Alex moved the towel between her legs and washed the area carefully while placing gentle kiss on her shoulder.

A few minutes later it was Alex's turn to be washed, and she passed the gel to Piper. The blonde stopped for a second, examining the product in her hand, and then a realization hit her.

Alex looked over her shoulder to know what was taking so long. "What?"

"Oh my god. I should make a line of hygiene products for women in prison!" Piper exclaimed. "Organic, non-toxic soap, but that actually smells good and hydrates."

Alex's lips curved upwards and she looked at Piper with pride in her eyes. "That's an excellent idea. I'd be happy to invest in this." Piper grinned. "See kid? We're doing so good now, ain't that amazing?"

A/N: Happy Sunday! I hope you all have a great week. For those who doen't know what sleep paralysis is, I suggest you google it. I can tell you by personal experience that it's really awful so Alex is really lucky to have Piper by her side! I am really enjoying writing this new chapter of their life together, I hope you are too. Please tell what you think guys!