A.N 15 reviews for the last chapter WOW! all I can say is 'How freakin' awesome!' thanks guys sooo much :) It has been brilliant to hear your response to a chapter that I loved writing as much as I did and I am honestly truly grateful.

I have had one guest review say they are particularly unhappy that I made Piper apologise for not being at the hospital. I agree Alex was in the wrong it was a terrible thing to do but Piper is torn up with guilt because of the situation and the enormity of seeing Alex in the state she was in lying in a hospital bed. Also no matter what I had done to upset the person I love I hope they would be there for me after brain surgery! But I am pretty sure Piper will have something to say about it in the near future. (I hope that explains my reasoning a little better and I am sorry you were disappointed)

Now lets get back to our favourite love birds ...

"Miss Chapman? Piper right?"

Piper took a deep breath while grabbing her coffee from the machine painting a smile on her face as she did so. It had been a long sleepless night and this would be her first coffee the idea of socialising before her first hot drink of the day almost causing her to shudder.

"That's me who's asking?"

Her tone was short but she found she did not care too sleep deprived to even muster the feeling of embarrassment at being so blunt.

"I'm Dan Walters Alex's surgeon, I went to university with your father"

The grouchiness disappeared and Piper eagerly took his offered hand in her own shaking it warmly "It's so good to meet you, thank you, thanks for everything"

Dan smiled "You're very welcome I was wondering could I have a few minutes of your time for a quick chat?"

Piper nodded eagerly and Dan clapped his hands in reply and wide smile spreading across his cheeks "Great if you could just follow me then"

After walking through the hospitals warren like corridors they settled into an empty interview room and Piper looked around curiously it was not what she had expected.

"This is just my temporary office I'm usually based at my own practice so they just shove me in here when I'm on duty. It's a bit dull and depressing but as I'm not here very often I suppose it does the trick"

Piper just nodded eager to press the conversation along she wanted to be back with Alex before she woke up after the promise she made the night before.

"The surgery went as well as it could have done we managed to remove the tumour in its entirety which is a huge positive considering just how large the tumour was. If Alex continues to recover well I will am hopefully in a few days I can sign her off to be moved to a normal ward"

Piper beamed her cheeks actually hurting from the size of her smile.

"These next few days she's going to sleep alot when she wakes it will only be for short intervals but this is just the body's way of healing itself. We will need to monitor her carefully and the recovery process will be long and most likely be arduous in places. With the frontal lobe being affected and after reading the nurses note from this morning Alex will almost definitely need rehabilitation to help regain full function in the left side of her body and she possibly may need to see a speech therapist depending on how she progresses"

Piper's smile faltered but she nodded seriously this was not a surprise to her but she knew Alex would not be happy.

"At the moment we are pumping her full of steroids to stop any swelling occurring and to prevent infection. The nurse has mentioned this morning that Alex's temperature is slightly raised and has increased through the night this is something I plan to keep a close eye on"

Piper wished she had a pen and paper she felt as though she should be documenting every word not wanting to forget any of the information given.

"Once Alex is home and the healing process is well on its way I will be in touch to discuss radiotherapy just to eradicate any remaining cancerous cells that we may have missed"

Piper's breath caught in her throat and she looked at Dan with wide eyes "Does this mean she's going to be ok?"

Dan smiled reassuringly "I'm feeling very positive Piper we will always have to monitor Alex throughout the remainder of her life to make sure the tumour doesn't return but at the moment she's fighting this and your fiancée is winning"

Piper struggled to hold back her elation and she stood up grabbing Dan around the shoulders squeezing him tightly.

"I don't know how to thank you" Dan chuckled and he looked at her his face red with embarrassment.

"I'm just doing my job Piper. If you want to thank anyone thank your father for contacting me and thank Alex for fighting for you"

Dan shuffled the papers on his makeshift desk and Piper watched as he updated the notes in a file marked A. Vause. Piper was just about to ask whether that was all when Dan's pager bleeped noisily. Picking up the offending item from where it was still droning on the edge of the desk Piper watched as Dan studied the pager before he glanced up at her worriedly then busied himself attaching the pager back to his hospital scrubs.

"Piper I need to check on a patient I think you should wait here for a moment"

Piper was certain that her heart had physically skipped a beat "Is it Alex?"

Dan faltered and Piper's fear was instantly confirmed "What's happened?"

"It's nothing unusual but Alex is suffering from a convulsion if you could just remain here I will be back momentarily" before Piper could reply Dan swept from the room hurriedly.

For a moment Piper stood stock still in shock before her brain recovered and she forced herself back out of the room and into the corridor. Trying to gain her bearings Piper ran blindly in the direction she thought the ICU was and she let out a huge breath of relief when the familiar double doors came into view. Bursting in Piper was greeted by Alex's nurse who caught hold of her mid stride blocking Alex's room from her view.

"Piper I think it would be best if you wait outside"

Piper snapped her nerves fuelling her temper "No fucking way"

She fought past the insistent hands forcing her way into Alex's room her blood running cold as the sound of the machines blaring echoed in her ears and the hospital bed came into view.

"Alex..."

Two nurses where struggling to hold Alex's body still as her limbs shook and shuddered through powerful convulsions she had dislodged the clip monitoring her heart beat causing the machine to drone loudly. Dan was holding her arm down firmly, his face set in concentration, as he injected a clear solution directly into her vein.

"Anti-convulsant has been administered hold her steady I do not want that shunt being dislodged"

Blood had pooled under the gauze around Alex's head wound causing Piper to choke down the bile she could feel rising at the sight. For a few minutes Alex continued to shake violently, the awful sound of gurgling mixing with the machine wail as froth built at her mouth, beginning to seep underneath the oxygen mask, trickling down Alex's neck. Dan pulled the oxygen mask away and tilted Alex's head gently towards him Piper presumed to stop Alex from choking. Piper felt helpless and she surged forward,skirted around Dan ignoring his warning glance and took Alex's hand firmly in her own before placing her lips as close to Alex's ear as she could.

"It's ok my darling you're ok shhh just relax, just relax let the medication do its work"

Piper knew she was rambling but she needed to feel as though she was doing something to help she placed one hand firmly on to Alex's shoulder helping the nurses hold her steady.

"Don't be frightened its normal, Dan says it's not unusual and you've never done anything by halves have you. I'm going to stay here and you are going to be just fine"

Piper ignored the other occupants in the room feeling their gazes burning into her. The shuddering began to ease slowly and eventually Alex's body stilled and the room let out a collective sigh of relief.

"It's ok now Piper the medication is doing its job and Alex should be fine we'll assess her immediately when she awakes. Fits occur as the nerves are healing in the brain as they are fixing back together they can 'short circuit' resulting in the body suffering convulsions"

Piper couldn't look at him afraid that she would cry if she did instead she just lifted Alex's hand to her lips and placed a kiss to her knuckles letting herself sink into the chair by the bedside.

"I'll be in touch Piper, Nurse Stevens can you keep me updated? Any change I want to be notified immediately" Alex's nurse nodded and the rest of medical team followed Dan as he left the room swiftly.

"I'm sorry for fighting you" Piper felt guilty now that the panic had abdicated she knew the nurse was only trying to do her job.

"I was just trying to save you from the sight. It's never pleasant and I can only imagine how painful it is to watch someone you love in this situation"

Piper nodded watching Nurse Stevens carefully clean the blood from around the shunt in Alex's head before applying a new patch of gauze.

"Can you pass me a tissue?"

The nurse quirked an eyebrow but she did as asked and Piper made quick work of wiping Alex's chin and oxygen mask clean. The nurse continued to work in silence and Piper lent her head against Alex's bicep as a wave of tiredness passed over her making her body slump. The adrenaline that had been coursing through her body had now evaporated leaving her to feel wrung out. Piper hoped and prayed there were no more complications today she wasn't quite certain her nerves would stand it in her exhausted state.

"So Alex was telling me all about you when she arrived she said it's only recently you proposed. Do you have any ideas for your wedding yet? Alex was a bit vague"

Piper snorted at the question but secretly she was glad for the distraction she didn't want to think about the mornings activities anymore.

"No, none at all, I don't know whether I'll ever get this one down the aisle"

The nurse just looked at her confusedly "She said yes right?"

Piper laughed "Not really..."

Nurse Stevens looked suitably puzzled so Piper quickly expanded "She agreed to to us being fiancées after much cajoling. Alex has never been one for traditions but I really would love nothing more than to be Mrs Alex Vause I don't think she knows how much it would mean to me to be officially hers"

Piper smiled wistfully "To Alex it's just a piece of paper that doesn't prove anything but to me it's an important piece of paper that actually means something"

Piper shook herself from her monologue blushing slightly "I'm sorry I'm rambling"

The nurse placed a comforting hand on her shoulder "Hey It's fine don't you worry"

Nurse Stevens checked all the different machine's readings and updated the patient notes before she smirked at Piper on her way out.

"You'll have plenty of free time if you're planning on staying here why don't you get yourself some wedding brochures?"

Piper let out a hearty laugh "And cause Alex to have another fit when she wakes up to me reading brides weekly I don't think so!"

"Don't worry I'll try not to disturb her but I need to do these observations they're really important"

Piper kept her eyes closed feigning sleep she had awoken the moment the door handle had been turned but for a moment she just wanted to listen quietly while coming around slowly from her sleepy state.

"You can take that scowl of your face the more you cooperate the quicker you will be able to go home"

Piper had to hold in a chuckle she could clearly picture the indignant look that Alex would be sporting but Piper was just happy she was awake after this mornings episode. The same routine checks were repeated and Piper held her breath when it came to Alex moving her left arm, this was the arm Piper's head was currently resting on.

"Left arm Alex"

Alex grumbled "Pi..per"

"If you disturb her I'm sure she won't mind your recovery is her top priority trust me"

Piper didn't dare move keeping her eyes tightly closed after a few minutes of nothing happening, not even a flicker of movement, the nurse swiftly moved on.

"Right well that's everything I know that left side isn't budging yet but it's not uncommon Alex we're just going to have to keep on trying"

Alex grunted in frustration "Fu..kin use'ss"

Piper was just about to sit up and rage but she was beaten to it by Nurse Stevens.

"No you're not useless you're doing amazingly well especially considering you only had surgery 48 hours ago and the size of the tumour you've had dug out of your head. It's one of the largest I've seen successfully removed. And if you hadn't realised you've just managed to say two more words than yesterday so give your body some credit"

"Wan.. 'ome..Pi..per"

Piper's heart swelled, today Alex's speech was better still heavily slurred but now she could at least say more than her name and she felt a little of the tension release from her mind at this unexpected development.

"Well that's a given no one willingly wants to be in a hospital. I don't think Piper minds though it's giving her plenty of time to plan your wedding"

Piper's head shot up indignant "Hey I am not! Do you want her to have another fit!"

The nurse laughed loudly "Ha I knew you were awake"

She stopped laughing as Alex's eyes flickered from one to the other in obvious confusion. "Have you any recollection of this morning Alex? Try and answer yes or no do not move that head!"

Alex's eyebrows scrunched in concentration "N..n..no"

"You had a fit we've given you a dose of anti convulsant meds so this should prevent anymore from occurring at least at that level of severity"

Alex's face was impassive but Piper saw her eyes darken slightly at the news she stood up so that she was in Alex's line of sight and placed a kiss to her cheek as she smiled naughtily.

"This one always has been a drama queen. You'll do just about anything to get the women flocking to your bed won't you"

Piper laughed playfully pleased when Alex's face broke into a smile the worry receding for now.

"Ch..ch..ee'ky... ssh..sshhhit"

Piper turned to the nurse with mock outrage "You see what I have to put up with"

Alex rolled her eyes her brow furrowed with the level of effort it was taking to speak "Woul'n 'ave ... any ..er ..w..w..way. "

Piper nuzzled Alex's cheek with her nose "No I wouldn't have it any other way that's why I'm trying to drag you down the aisle"

Alex groaned and Nurse Stevens burst out laughing "I think I would just accept it Alex this one here has been telling me all about how much she wants to be Mrs Vause"

Piper blushed embarrassed but when she chanced a glance at Alex and saw the look of adoration across her face she was suddenly glad that she had voiced her desires.

"V...Vau..se?" Alex's tone was laced with amusement.

"Come on you know it's miles better than Chapman. Piper Vause how badass does that sound!"

Alex laughed huskily wincing violently when the action caused her to move her head.

"Next morphine dose I think Alex and would you like to try some water?" Alex nodded and Nurse Stevens handed Piper a bottle of water and a straw.

"Here you are Mrs Vause you can make yourself useful"

Piper laughed still blushing profusely and she took the water, guiding the straw to Alex's mouth while holding the bottle steady and the oxygen mask away from her face. She watched interested as the nurse adjusted the morphine levels on the machine closest to her.

"Right I'll be back tomorrow that's my shift done any problems Piper just press this button here and someone will respond. I'll see you two love birds later"

Once the nurse had gone Alex reached up clumsily with her right arm and pulled the oxygen mask away from her face giving Piper her signature smirk "C..co..me 'ere"

Piper rolled her eyes but complied pressing a loving kiss to Alex's lips savouring the feeling. Alex cheekily deepened the kiss and Piper responded although tentatively.

"W..won' br...eak"

"I know I'm just being careful" Alex rolled her eyes and Piper stroked her cheek gently with her finger.

"I'm sure you're going to give yourself a headache with all that eye rolling"

Alex just raised an eyebrow chuckling replying sarcastically "Would'n wan ... t.t.t..that"

Piper nudged her arm playfully "You know what I mean"

Alex patted the side of the bed and Piper sat down gingerly but Alex had other ideas she pulled on her hand hard so that Piper fell ending up lying tucked up against Alex's left side despite her protests "Ss..stop strugg'in"

"I just don't want to hurt you"

Alex lifted Piper's hand, with quite a lot of difficulty, to her lips and placed a soft kiss to her knuckles "Could ...nev..rrrr"

"That morphine kicking in yet?" Alex just hummed and Piper pulled the oxygen mask back over Alex's face before she snuggled into her side craving the familiarity this was her favourite position to wake up in. It had been the one of the best moments of her new life when she had awoken the first morning out of Litchfield feeling Alex's warm, strong body nestled at the side of her own. Even now the memory was so strong she could feel the happiness from that day tingling through her veins.

"You... ssc..ar'd?"

"Now?" Alex didn't reply and Piper sat up so she could see her face which was creased with a frown "This morning?"

Alex's head twitched slightly to the left in affirmative. Piper let out a sigh and snuggled back into Alex's arm "Yes for a moment I wasn't just scared I was petrified"

"Ssso...rry"

"Don't be sorry you can't help it and I'm so proud of you you're doing so well. Your speech has come on leaps and bounds today, even after your little moment this morning, I can barely get a word in edge ways"

Alex quiet chuckle reverberated through Piper's body warming her deep into her very soul.

"I can't tell you how good it is to hear your husky tones" Piper's cheeks ached from the size of her smile and she beamed up at Alex her happiness clearly on display.

"Lllo... ve... you"

Alex's voice slurred heavily and Piper knew the pain meds where beginning to work their magic and that she would be asleep in a matter of minutes.

"I love you too"

Alex's hand went slack in her own and Piper snuggled down contentedly feeling her own body relax as much as it possibly could while she lay in a hospital the machines bleeping distractedly around her. Piper turned so that she was facing the machine monitoring Alex heartbeat taking comfort in the steady sound as she prepared herself for another restless night.