A few months passed since Lindsay's death. Grace organised a joint funeral service for both Lindsay and her mother, Monique. The turnout was amazing as anyone who met Lindsay instantly fell in love with her as she was so funny, clever and mainly, she was just so friendly. Grace had shut down their business for well over a month so that she could grieve properly but she finally set it back up but renamed it to simply Callahan's in memory of her best friend. She felt so completely horrible and she felt to blame no matter how many times everyone tried to convince her that she wasn't to blame. Zoe had even proposed to her to cheer her up. Grace accepted but everyone could tell that she'd lost part of her spark without her best friend being there to share the news with.

Alex also took the death of her friend hard. They were so close when they were young and she'd only just got reacquainted with her but she couldn't do anything to save her. Piper did her best to cheer her up but she was also grieving as Lindsay had become one of her best friends in the short amount of time that she had known the redhead. She was someone she could call and she'd be over when she needed her but now if she rang the number, no one would pick it up.

The police had arrived shortly after Alex and Piper woke up and they questioned everyone. No one was arrested and they took Lindsay's body to the resting house, leaving the women and Pete behind. Everyone took the day off of work and Piper and Alex spent the day cleaning the room. It was now tainted and they knew they'd never go in that particular room again. So much so, they put a lock on the door that could be locked from the outside. They locked up the room and Alex put the key in a jar at the bottom of one of their wardrobes with a statement of 'out of sight, out of mind'. However, it wasn't such a thing. They would always remember Lindsay.

In other news, Nicky had thrived in her job behind the bar and had been asked to be the manager of another that was being opened near to where Crawley's was. She immediately accepted as she knew that Lorna would be able to be there every lunch time if she could. The two of them had the most amazing relationship now. Lorna had even come out to her family. Her parents weren't ridiculously thrilled but they could see how much Nicky supported Lorna and how much she helped her with everything. It took them a while but they eventually opened their arms and welcomed Nicky into the family. Nicky had also met up with her mother and told her that she was in a devoted relationship with Lorna but they still didn't talk very much but at least their relationship wasn't as strained. Mainly, her mother was just glad that Nicky was no longer using.

Piper had planned on taking a trip to Paris with Alex now that she was free but neither of the girls was up to going on holiday as there had been so much to do with Lindsay's funeral. It was only the day before they were meant to go that Piper had remembered she'd booked it. She'd tried to cancel it but she couldn't. Instead, she gave the tickets to Cal and Neri and the two of them went for their honeymoon. Cal finally relaxed to letting Neri fly after much persuasions from Alex and Neri.

Two and a half months after Lindsay's passing, Neri gave birth to her and Cal's first child which they named Fern Celeste Chapman; Fern obviously because it was a plant and Celeste in remembrance of Cal's grandmother. Not a few weeks after the birth of Fern, Helene announced that she was carrying her and Danny's first child. She had chosen to not renew her modelling contract and had decided to start the family that she and Danny wanted, much to Carol's happiness.

All the talk of babies made Piper even more upset that she couldn't have a child. She was getting to the stage now where she craved one. She'd stare after mothers in the street and she'd pause outside of baby shops despite not needing to go in. She was, however, rather reluctant to bring it up with Alex as she was in the final stages of writing her book. Since Lindsay's death, she just kept herself to herself normally and just wrote. She was almost finished with her book and it would soon be time for it to be edited. Piper had offered to be her editor but Alex had rejected her offer. Instead, she'd chosen to go to Veronica to edit her book as she specialised in the specific genres that Alex had selected: crime and horror. The book was also very dark and she wasn't sure she wanted Piper to read it. However, she seemed to forget that Piper would read it before it was published as she had the final word. She did know though that she would pass the book without reading it to spare Alex's feelings.

However, since the night they got engaged, Alex rarely spoke about actually getting married. When Piper mentioned it, Alex would just shrug it off and change the conversation. Piper asked her if they should think about booking a date and Alex would return with another question about whether they should buy a jumper or a scarf for baby Fern.

After a few weeks of it, Piper finally cracked. The two of them were in their bedroom after a round or more of love making, something that hadn't gone out of the window in the sad time. It was a Friday, two days until Piper's thirty-fifth birthday. She'd always hoped that she would be married before she turned that age.

The two of them were lying side by side and Alex was absentmindedly trailing her fingers up and down Piper's arm.

"Al, I want to start arranging the wedding," Piper said.

"I need to work on my book," Alex replied quickly as if she'd prepared what her answer to Piper would be.

"I know but you're almost there and I really want to be married to you," Piper complained and sat up. "We've been engaged for three months and I just want to be your wife already!"

"I just can't."

"Can't or won't?" Piper asked starting to get really angry about it. "You won't let us even talk about the engagement. Do you not want to marry me?" Piper knew it was a low blow to ask that but she knew that she'd get a reaction out of her fiancée.

"Don't, Piper. You know I want to marry you," Alex replied. She sat up and leant forward to capture Piper's lips in a kiss in an attempt to shut her up but it seemed that the blonde wasn't having any of it as she pulled away quickly.

"Then why?"

"Just because. That's the end of the conversation," Alex said. She then tried to kiss Piper again but she just slid out of Alex's reach and then out of the bed entirely, much to Alex's dismay. "Piper, come on. Don't leave."

"I just want some space."

Piper left the room and headed to the library. She browsed the shelves until one of the books caught her fancy. She decided to read 'The Time Traveler's Wife' which she hadn't read since Alex read it to her in prison well over a year ago. She loved the book anyway but it was even better having Alex reading it to her. However, seeing as she was currently mad with her fiancée, she decided to read it again alone.

oOoOo

It was almost midnight and Alex was still alone in their room. She thought that Piper would have caved and come crawling back but she hadn't. Worrying slightly, she climbed out of bed and started to walk around the apartment for her fiancée. She checked the living room and kitchen but the blonde wasn't here. She then peeked into Piper's office but she wasn't there either. That meant that there was only one place that she could be. Hoping she was right, Alex walked towards the library and saw the door was slightly ajar. She peered in and saw Piper on the sofa. She had a book open on her chest but she was clearly fast asleep. Smiling, Alex entered the room and walked over to her. She picked up the book and folded the corner on the page she was on, smiling brightly at the chosen book before placing it on the nearby table. Gently, she picked up Piper and carried her bridal style to their bedroom. She slipped Piper's gown off which she'd put on when leaving the room and tucked her up in bed before getting on with her mission.

oOoOo

When Piper woke up the next morning, she was alone in the bedroom. She called out for Alex but there wasn't a reply meaning that her fiancée wasn't in the bedroom or en suit, nor was she in the walk in wardrobe. She then sat up and noticed that there was a note on Alex's pillow so she picked it up and read it.

Good morning, baby.

Now I want you to do as these notes say for the rest of the day. You're not allowed to text or ring me as I'm not going to reply and you'll just get annoyed.

First things first, now that you're up, it's time for you to get a shower.

P.S I love you.

Piper laughed but she found the note rather sweet. She checked her phone and saw that it was barely ten and she didn't have any messages. The temptation to text Alex was huge but for now, she decided to humour her and go with the notes.

When she got into the bathroom, she saw another note on the mirror.

Go shower and then when you're dressed, I want you to head to Polly's. You're not allowed to text her to find out what is going on either. If you do, I'll know. Don't even get anything to eat first and no makeup!

P.S I love you.

Highly confused, Piper did what she was told and took a shower, washing her body thoroughly, as if forgetting about what was going on. When the shower was over, she dried her hair quickly and dressed in shorts and a tank top as it was now June and it was getting warm in New York now. Alex's note didn't mention anything about a drink so she quickly made herself a green tea and put it in a flask so she could take it to Polly's with her.

The drive to Polly's was slow with traffic but she eventually got to her best friend's house. Oddly, she was waiting by the front door for Piper to arrive which she never did. She usually just stayed behind the door and opened it immediately.

"Polly, what is going on?" Piper asked as she jumped out of the car and rushed up the stairs into Polly's house.

"I can't tell you," Polly replied. "I'm to give you this." She then handed Piper a white envelope that had Piper's name on.

Immediately, she opened it and read the next of Alex's messages.

Welcome to Polly's. Now, you're going to let her do your hair and makeup. Polly has also made you some pancakes that you can eat as she does your hair.

P.S I love you.

"Come on!" Polly cried and she pulled Piper upstairs so she could start her hair and makeup. Polly started talking about how work was going which Piper replied to. She kept asking what was going on amongst eating the pancakes that Polly had made but Polly just reflected the message with another one. Piper was getting beyond annoyed now as no one was telling her what was going on.

"Where's Pete?" She asked as Polly left her hair alone. She'd curled it and then pinned sections back so that it was framing her face but she could still see.

"He's sorting some things out," Polly replied vaguely which irritated Piper further.

"Where's Finn?"

"With Pete. Stop frowning!" She added as it was crinkling up the eye shadow.

Piper had barely been at Polly's for an hour when Polly was driving her to another destination, in Piper's car! Throughout the car journey, Polly kept singing along to the radio, again avoiding Piper's questions.

The drive seemed to take forever but eventually, Polly pulled up outside a manor house which looked old but well kept. When Piper got out of the car, Polly pulled her through the house as if she'd been there many times before and showed her to a room. The room was huge itself with a bed and mirrors and Piper was finally able to look at herself and she had to admit she looked good.

She then turned round to thank Polly but the brunette had gone. Looking round, Piper noticed another note on the bed.

Look into the wardrobe and I want you to put on that dress and those heels. Everything will be revealed soon, kid. Just keep being patient. It'll be worth it.

P.S I love you.

Upon opening the wardrobe, Piper saw the most beautiful dress. It was ivory and it started to dawn on Piper what was going on. She just hoped that she wasn't wrong. She got the dress out of the wardrobe and stripped her clothes off. She slipped the dress over her hair carefully and was just about able to zip it up at the back. It fit snugly to her chest before flowing out below. It wasn't overly poofy but it suited Piper to no end.

She then got the shoes out of the wardrobe and saw that they were the most beautiful pair of ivory heeled shoes that she'd ever seen. They were high but not too high so that she'd tower over everyone, except Nicky of course as she was so short. They also sparkled.

Just as she put on the second shoe, there was a knock on the door before it opened to reveal her dad. He was wearing a black suit with a flower in his button hole.

"Piper, you look beautiful," he said as he walked in, smiling brightly at his daughter.

"Daddy, what's going on?" Piper asked.

"I'm to say nothing but hand you this," he replied and handed her a letter.

Piper,

I promise you baby, this the last letter. I know I've been a little distant lately when you talked about getting married but I've been planning this for a couple of months. I wanted everything to be perfect and I hope that it is.

I hope that today is what you dreamed of because I know it will for me. I'll see you soon.

P.S I love you.

"Daddy, am I getting married?" Piper asked looking up from the note.

"You'll have to wait and see," Bill replied and held out his arm for Piper to hold.

Bill then escorted Piper out of the room and down a corridor before going down a flight of stairs. They then heard noises coming from a nearby room but it stopped when they got close. Bill knocked on the door then four women came out. Three were wearing pale blue dresses and they were Grace, Zoe and Lorna and then there was Polly who was wearing a deep blue dress instead.

"I hope you don't mind your choice of bridesmaids," Lorna said nervously.

"I wouldn't have asked for anyone else," Piper replied with a smile.

Then the double doors in front of them opened and Lorna, Grace and Zoe walked into the room one after the other. Polly then smiled brightly at Piper and winked before following them in.

Bill then turned to Piper. "Are you ready?" He asked. "You don't have to do this if you're not."

"I've never felt more ready," Piper replied.

Bill nodded and then started to walk, pulling Piper with him as she hadn't let go of his arm yet. Piper stepped into the room and looked around. She had all of her close family on the left and a few friends were with them. Then there were Alex's extended family as she no longer had her mother but she did have two aunts and cousins who were sitting on the right but Piper barely registered them.

She looked forward and barely registered that Nicky was stood next to Alex wearing a pants suit with a shirt that matched the colour of the bridesmaid's dresses. All that mattered at that moment was Alex. She was stood at the front wearing an emerald green dress that was slightly darker than her ring. Her hair was slightly curled and her lips were ruby red. She had never looked more beautiful.

Once Piper was at the front of the room, Bill took her hand from his and placed it into Alex's.

"Who gives this woman to this woman?" The vicar asked.

"I do, William Chapman," he replied and then took his seat next to Carol who was already crying.

Throughout the entire service Piper kept her eyes locked onto Alex's and said what she had to. Alex repeated the vows effortlessly though Piper stumbled over a few words as the realness of the situation really hit her. Here she was, the day before her birthday, getting married to the love of her life. Nothing could beat that.

Finally, the two said their 'I dos' and there were pronounced finally married and allowed to kiss. Alex leant forward and captured Piper's lips in a sweet kiss.

"I love you," she whispered when they broke apart.

"I love you, too," Piper replied.

Alex then took her hand and led her back down the aisle and out of the room to the room where the bridesmaids had been in previously.

"I honestly can't believe you did this all behind my back!" Piper cried happily. "You are the most amazing woman in the world!" She pulled Alex to her and kissed her again. "I love you even more and I didn't think that was possible. This is the best day of my life."

"I love you, too," Alex replied smiling so brightly because everything had gone to plan. She just had to rely on Piper waking up when she thought she would which turned out that she did. "However, I lied earlier." She muttered and picked up another note and passed it to Piper.

My dear darling wife,

It is so incredible that I get to call you that now! It is your birthday tomorrow and it is also time for our honeymoon. You asked where one of your shirts went the other day, the truth is, I've already packed it. We're going to Madrid!

"You, my lovely wife, are the sneakiest person alive," Piper said and pulled Alex closer to her again and kissed her with everything she had. "And now you can't ever get rid of me. Bring on Madrid!"

Hey guys. Yay they're married! Bet you didn't see that coming yet. This is just a heads up as it's probably going to be the last chapter for a while. I leave for university tomorrow so I don't when I'll next get the chance to write. Stay with me though. Also, thanks again for the reviews and support. It's so incredible. I love you all! Emss x