Chapter 27:

"Central Park Bliss"

Piper and Alex were up early on a Saturday morning to go pick up their friend at a small café in Upper Manhattan. When the short, messy haired woman walked into the store, the couple stood up and brought Nicky into an embrace.

"So good to see you girl," Alex said happily.

"We've missed you so much," Piper added. "Come, sit."

The three women sat around the table and Alex motioned the waitress to bring Nicky a cup of coffee. They took the whole morning to catch up; Piper and Alex explained the terrible things that went down after Alex's release, Alex's book, and Piper's project. As for Nicky she told them how much she missed her wife terribly and how she'd managed to get out early. Apparently Figueroa had so badly maintained the facility's budget, to a point that they couldn't keep some inmates longer due to lack of funds. So they had released a dozen women, mainly those who had serve a good part of their sentence and who were not dangers to other. Luckily, Nicky was one of them. The ex-heroin addict hoped that Lorna would be next too.

"So Nichols, you're welcomed to spend all the time you want here," Alex said when they arrived at their apartment. "Only thing is you'll have to sleep on the couch."

"Sister, a couch is like a hammock on a beach in the Maldives when you've slept on a bunk in prison," Nicky said, bouncing on the couch. "Don't worry about it. Plus this couch is heavenly comfortable for being a couch."

Alex smiled and went to find Piper in the kitchen. She could hear that Nicky had already made herself at home and turned on the TV. Alex wrapped her arms around Piper as the blonde undid the groceries. "Hey I was thinking we—"

"Hey! They are airing re-runs of Friends! This is like the best day of my life!" Nicky shouted from the living room.

Alex let out a soft chuckle in Piper's hair. "So yeah I was thinking that we could have a small Christmas dinner, with Nicky, my aunt and maybe you could invite Cal and his girlfriend? I know it won't be much, but I think after everything we've been through it would be nice to celebrate with the people we care about right?"

Piper spun in Alex's embrace to face her, looping her arms around her neck. Alex pressed her fiancée's body against the counter. "I hope you know how much I love you Alex Vause and your new found passion for Christmas," Piper said softly, then her voice turned into a husky whisper, "It makes me so wet. You are lucky Nicky is here because I'd fuck you on this counter."

Alex let out a growl and started kissed Piper's neck.

"Commercial break!" Nicky announced as she walked toward the kitchen. "Do you have any snack, AH!"

Alex stepped away from Piper, a smug grin on her face.

"Sorry," Piper said, blushing. She wasn't really sorry though.

"Nothing I haven't seen before," Nicky shrugged. "So where are those snacks?"

Alex looked at Nicky and chuckled. "Never change, Nichols."

Piper and Alex went out in the afternoon, leaving their friend enjoying her newfound freedom in their apartment. They took at taxi to a shopping mall so that they could do some Christmas shopping. Piper was surprised that Alex had agreed to come, considering that she hated shopping and Christmas, but she was very grateful that her lover was there.

"Think we should get a tree?" Piper asked as they passed through the alley of artificial Christmas tree.

"Do you want a tree?" Piper just shrugged but Alex knew she did want one. "We'll get you a tree, but a real one, not one of those artificial shit."

Piper smiled and slid her arm across Alex's back. She never thought it would be possible to be this in love. "I love you."

"Me too, kid." Alex squeezed the blonde against her body.

They bought a bunch various stuff, a new set of plates and cutlery, since the ones they had was old and convenient for only 4 persons, glasses, some Christmas lights and ornaments for the tree Alex promised they'd get.

Once they got out of the general store, Piper and Alex went separate ways so that they'd save some time. Alex searched for a gift for her aunt, and meanwhile, Piper said she'd search a gift for Finn, but instead she searched for Alex's Christmas gift.

Piper ended up in small Jeweller's shop. The special thing about that store is that it was only filled with products made from artisans, and every item was unique. She wasn't sure what to get her lover at first, and then it stroked her. A silver band adorned with one large diamond in the center, two smaller one next to it, and two smaller bands twisting on each side from the middle filled also with a dozen rocks caught her eyes. The beauty and complexity of the jewel was what made Piper fall in love with it because it was so representative of Alex. She then realized that it was unfair that Alex hadn't received any ring for their engagement, even if it made sense since she was the one to propose. But fuck the conformity; they were two girls and those norms didn't have to apply to them. Piper wanted Alex to have this ring. She wasn't sure she would be able to wait until Christmas to give it to her though.

"Aw the husband gave you money to spend on a new ring." The jeweler commented as Piper watched the ring. Piper turned to him. He was very old and it didn't surprise her much that he had made this kind of assumption. She had to let out a small laugh. "No, the fiancée actually, a woman, gave me this beautiful ring," Piper showed him her left hand, "and I want to return the favor." Piper was so proud and unapologetic. "I'll take it."

When Piper left the store, she hid the small velvety box in purse and texted Alex to know if she was done on her side. They met at the entrance and called a cab to get home. Alex told Piper the gift she got for her aunt, and the complete series of Friends she bought for Nicky. As for Piper, she lied and said she was unsuccessful for Finn's gift.

There was a lot of traffic and they were getting bored in the cab. Alex slid the hand she had rested on Piper to her inner thigh. Piper turned and gave Alex a warning look, one that Alex decided to ignore. The dark-haired woman pressed her hand between Piper's legs. It made the blonde squirm and she bit her lips. It reminded her of the time in Paris when Alex had made her cum in a cab without the driver noticing. Alex was more tamed this time and decided to just tease. She withdrew her hand from Piper's crotch, placed in on her cheek and pulled her into a kiss. Piper gently welcomed Alex's tongue in her mouth and let it explore her warmth.

The cab driver coughed. "This is your home, ladies."

Piper and Alex knew that pretty soon every cab driver in New York City would hate them if they kept doing that, and they both didn't give a single fuck. They paid the cabby and entered their apartment.

Nicky was still in the living room at their arrival, except the TV was turned off and she was arguing with her mom on the phone. Piper and Alex shared a look saying it was best not to bother her; in fact, they took this opportunity to sneak quietly upstairs. Piper had Alex pushed against their bedroom walls, kissing her neck frantically.

Alex couldn't control the sounds coming out of her mouths. "Oh fuck Pipes. What if Nicky hears something and decides to come upstairs?"

Piper stopped abruptly and stepped back. Her green orbs were filled with lust as she gazed at Alex, thinking of a plan, and then she grabbed the other's woman hands and dragged her into the bathroom. Piper locked the door behind her and she pushed Alex's body forward until her lower back reached the counter. Piper leaned down and grabbed the back of her lover's knees, and Alex helped her by lifting her body on the counter. Piper spread her legs and removed the leather pants Alex wore with one powerful tug. The brunette's panties, shirt and bra were also rapidly discarded haphazardly in the room. Piper rarely led their passionate encounters, but this time the need to pleasure her fiancée had consumed her like a fire, one probably fueled by all the wonderful things Alex had done lately. She had the need to reward her even though she was absolutely positive that it wasn't Alex's intention to get recompensed for anything. Without wasting anymore time, Piper entered Alex with two fingers and established a thrusting rhythms that Alex followed with ardor. Piper took one of her lover's luscious nipples in her mouth and devoured it with an urgent desire. Alex had to cling onto Piper to steady herself, grasping her hair, needing her desperately as pleasure rippled through her.

There were many elements that Piper found beautiful whenever she pleasured Alex; like the way she totally lost the control that she usually worked so hard to maintain, or the way Alex became unabashed about needing someone like her life depended on it. The walls Alex built around herself were completely shattered by the intensity of Piper's love, and Piper only could ever do that.

Alex was teetering on the edge and she wasn't shy to express it. She moaned Piper's name wantonly, careless that they weren't alone in the house, and her body stiffened as threads of pleasure traveled down her body into every nerve. Her orgasm had hit her it was only the first one of many to come.

They were both panting heavily once they finished, especially Alex, and they starting laughing.

"Fuck, that was crazy! " Alex chuckled happily. Piper got out a clean towel and soaked it with cold water so that they could freshen up. "Thank you baby." Alex took the towel and cleaned her body.

Piper hummed her contentment. "I hope you are ready to receive mind-blowing orgasms for the rest of your life because I'm just getting started." Piper flashed a grin. "Speaking of, wanna take a walk with me tonight? There's somewhere I'd like to take you."

"Yes, absolutely." Alex smiled. "So do you think Nicky heard us?"

"Let's find out."

The couple walked downstairs and found Nicky in the kitchen, wearing Piper's apron, and cooking them a meal.

"Jeez Nicky who knew you could cook?" Alex joked.

"I can't, but I wanted to do something nice for you guys as you are in your post-coital bliss," Nicky said. She took out a roast out of the oven and it actually looked delicious. "And yes if you are wondering I heard you. You guys managed to be louder than my shrieking banshee of a mother."

"Is everything okay?" Piper asked as she put on the table.

"Well, it looks like it will be harder than I thought finding a place to stay since my mother completely decided I wasn't worthy of being her daughter anymore," Nicky shrugged and acted like it was no big deal, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice.

Piper put a hand on Nicky's shoulder as they all sat down. "Well Nicky, you are welcomed to stay here as long as you want. You're family," Piper told her and gave a wink to Alex.

The dinner was surprisingly good and Nicky even insisted that she'd clean everything so that Alex and Piper could go out. It made them sad that Nicky missed Lorna so much because they knew exactly what it felt like.

The weather was perfect for a romantic walk in Central Park; not too cold, but just enough so that sky blew down a light powdery snow that transformed the landscape into a magical place. Piper and Alex walked hands in hands, and around them was a white covering that shimmered under the night stars. The lovers were alone on the trail, and thus the only noise that could be heard within the area was the squeaks beneath their feet. Piper couldn't have chosen a better night to do what she had in mind—it was almost too perfect, straight out of a fairy tale. But if there was something that she certain thus far; life can be quite horrible sometimes, and every moment that was worthy of a smile needed to be cherish.

There was this particular bridge went above a frozen lake, and it was no more different than any in this park, but Piper stopped on it. Alex turned to her, the link between their hands never breaking, and she embraced her fiancée's body like it was an old habit. The blonde found an immediate comfort in her lover's warmth, and a corner of her mouth lifted as she realized Alex was wearing her leather jacket. She loved the fact that Alex would still wear despite it was too thin for a winter in New York, and that she simply put a hoodie under it to protect her body from the cold.

"So there's a reason I brought you here," Piper started after a few seconds. A suspicious smile curved Alex's lips as she began to realize that the other woman's was about to surprise her. "If you turn your head over here," she said and turned their bodies toward the trees. Amidst all the boughs adorned with fluffy pillows of snow was their very special tree that they loved so much. Alex recognized it. Due to the wintry conditions, Piper was unable to bring Alex closer to it without having snow up to their knees. But she didn't care; the scenery was beautiful from the bridge too. "When you first proposed to me, it was one of the most beautiful moment of my life. I had never felt happier. And although I don't regret that you chose to do it in prison, I think that we should look back at this memory, this promise of eternity together, and remember that we took this engagement in a place that is happier rather than in one that is a reflection of our mistakes." Piper paused and took out the small box from her purse. She opened it, revealing the gorgeous ring she had carefully chosen for her lover. She rarely saw her lover weep during happy moments, but she saw Alex's eyes become moist. "I'm not going to get down on one knee or ask you to marry me again, but I want to offer you this ring because you gave me a beautiful one and consider this as an early Christmas gift, and I love you and—"

Alex grabbed each side of her face and leaned to kiss her deeply. They separated and Piper slid the ring on Alex's finger. "This ring is gorgeous. Thank you so much baby."

Piper gave her the biggest heartfelt smile, and the look they share after that was full of tenderness and warmth—a vow that they'd keep each other happy for the rest of their lives.

A/N: So much fluff! I hope you appreciated that. Again, I'm really touched by all the reviews, keep writing them