A.N Hi everyone i'm sorry i'm late in updating I have been away in Europe for a long weekend and have only just got caught up on boring things like work and washing :( So here is my belated chapter and I thank you all for waiting patiently.

Oh and as a warning to the guest reviewer who does not seem to be enjoying my portrayal of Bill Chapman (I know and agree that he's not a nice guy in the TV series I've just made him a good chap in my universe) he's back in this chapter and will continue to appear frequently in the future.

As always thank you for the previous reviews, they always make me smile in happiness and appreciation, and if you have a moment please continue to let me know what you think :)

"You have three days before its Christmas Eve to decorate your apartment and buy all your gifts. Why don't let me take Alex to get her stuff and you can then get your own without flapping trying to hide from Alex what you are buying then you won't have to worry the same"

Piper studied her fathers earnest face and felt guilty. Bill was spending so much time travelling between his home and Piper's apartment spending up to 4 hours in the car each time but he was insistent, not listening to her protests that they were fine.

"Dad you must be exhausted this is the second time you've visited this week surely you would rather stay in? We can have a coffee and watch a film"

Bill snorted and Piper raised her eyebrows "Piper I'm not that old I don't need to snooze the afternoon away just yet. You've just said how much you've got to do and you will never get it done in time while you're keeping such a close eye on Alex so let me help"

Piper still hesitated she knew Alex wouldn't be bothered at being without her for the afternoon she had told her just yesterday to stop with her fussing and just go and get her shopping done. But Piper was struggling she didn't want to leave her on her own, she had the nagging feeling that if she wasn't there something would happen. Deep down she knew it was irrational but she was struggling to overcome it no matter how hard she tried to push the fear away it still remained. Piper bit her lip and looked at her father whose face was so earnest and she let out a sigh of resignation. If she was going to trust anybody to look after Alex while out and about it would be her father.

"Come on I love spending time with Alex she's funny, she gets me and have you seen her, she's gorgeous! Other men look at me with envy when she's on my arm!"

Alex's husky laugh echoed in the kitchen as Piper groaned loudly at her father's inappropriate teasing. Bill turned to Alex, grinning wildly, not at all embarrassed at being caught "Well its true you are!"

Alex had actually blushed a non too easy feat to accomplish which made Piper begin to chuckle although she did slap her dads arm as Alex slowly came towards them using her crutches.

"Ow! What was that for?"

Piper scowled at Bill while trying to keep a smile off of her face as she did "Fawning over my fiancée I'm well aware she's gorgeous beyond reason but as her father in law you need to learn to hold your tongue, its inappropriate"

Alex just grinned and winked at Piper exaggeratedly "Well as much as it's flattering b..being called gorgeous what's the occasion?"

Piper bit her lip and looked at her father worriedly she opened her mouth to speak first but Bill was not to be deterred in his excitement, his arms gesturing wildly as he spoke.

"Me and you are going Christmas shopping! I need to get Carol's presents and I'm sure you've got gifts you need to buy"

Alex nodded although her face became slightly strained and she looked to the floor shuffling awkwardly on her crutches. Bill must have mistook her action for nerves about the crutches because his next words were "You don't have to walk we can use your chair"

Piper inwardly groaned there was no way Alex would agree now she had refused to set her backside back in the damn thing since they had returned from the hospital apart from the physio appointments she had had to attend and even then it had been a battle.

Predictably Piper watched as Alex scowled heavily but Bill just nudged her shoulder "Stop looking like that it'll be great! We can push through all the crowds, ram people bodily out of the way. I can't think of a better use for that contraception and nobody's going to say anything to a pensioner and a cripple!"

"Daddy! That is a terrible thing to say"

Alex began to laugh as Bill's enthusiasm shone in his expression, although he did look guiltily at Piper for his choice of words, and Piper wanted to hug her father right there and then he always seemed to know exactly what to say to get Alex on side.

"Sorry Piper I was just trying to make a point|"

"Ok I'll use the b..bloody chair but no complaining when you get tired of pushing me around old man"

Piper looked between them both incredulously before she just smiled shaking her head.

"Hey Pipes can you pass me some painkillers?"

Piper's eyebrows shot up and she looked at Alex concerned "Have you still got a headache?"

As they went to bed the night before Alex had been complaining of a niggling headache but she had also been coughing and wheezing on and off throughout the last few days and there was no sign of it getting any better. In fact Piper was certain it had worsened.

Piper had immediately began to panic blaming herself for the various outings they had made for some fresh air. They hadn't been far just the local coffee shop and the park each time Piper had wrapped Alex in as many layers possible her fiancée humouring her with a wry smile. Last night as Alex had wheezed on and off she had felt the panic build but Alex had shushed her, taken two painkillers and told her to stop worrying, while cuddling her fiercely. It hadn't stopped Piper from waking periodically through the night checking over Alex as she slept.

"It's just a touch of cold kid and the headache will just b..be from the coughing while my heads still so b..bleeding sensitive"

Piper didn't feel appeased and she watched as Alex propped herself and her crutches up against the kitchen counter. Piper smiled though as Alex's long arms wrapped reassuringly around her shoulders allowing the warmth from Alex's body to settle over her.

"We need to keep an eye on it though Alex I don't want it to make you really poorly"

Alex pressed her lips to her temple soothingly "I'll be fine I'll take the painkillers, have a coffee and wrap up warm. It's just a cold it'll b..be gone in a couple of days you don't need to worry ok?"

Piper nodded, although she averted her eyes from Alex's, quickly flicking the kettle on and getting the necessary medication. Alex coughed loudly at the side of her and Piper quickly passed her the drugs.

"I'll have a tea Piper if you don't mind?"

Piper nodded and tried to smile at her father but she was pretty sure it came out more as a grimace her nerves feeling stretched especially combined with the little sleep she had managed. With careful precision she filled three mugs with hot water and left her father's tea to stew while she made herself and Alex an instant coffee. Once Piper had finished they all went and sat down in the living room, her father in the armchair, Piper on the couch sitting as close to Alex as physically possible and she tried to avoid her fathers eye as he looked at her sympathetically.

"Well once we've had these Alex I think we'll make a move I don't want to be travelling home too late I think I'm due at the Mason's at 9 for 'Pre-Christmas drinks' tonight and God forbid if I'm late"

Bill scowled and Piper snorted laughing her father had always despised their overbearing neighbours finding them false and pretentious. Her mother however loved being in the thick of things and it was an invitation that was always readily accepted at her end.

"Is their son still trying to hide the fact that he's the biggest homosexual in Connecticut?"

"Oh yes he still turns up each time a different beautiful escort on his arm looking terrified for the entire evening in case anybody says anything that could 'out' him. I sympathise with him the poor boy must be bloody awful to be that fearful of your parents"

Piper smiled sympathetically she could still remember how she had felt when trying to hide the life she was living with Alex, lying about who she was with and where she had been. If she could turn back the clock knowing what she knew now she wouldn't hesitate at taking Alex home with her as her girlfriend and sometimes it saddened her that Bill especially didn't get to meet Alex the first time around.

"Is that why you didn't bring Alex home all those years ago?"

Piper watched as Alex's face became guarded. Although Alex had joked about being 'the invisible woman' when they were together playing on it to make her laugh deep down Piper knew that it had hurt Alex being hidden away like a dirty little secret.

"Not really in the same way I wasn't worried that you would disown me if I turned up with a woman. It just felt like you had my life planned out for me Daddy and the lesbian drug smuggling girlfriend certainly didn't seem to be a piece of that carefully constructed puzzle"

Bill looked put out "All I ever wanted was for you to be happy Piper"

Piper smiled at her dad over the rim of her coffee cup "I know that now but at the time Mum with the grand Chapman plan was suffocating. I wanted adventure, freedom ...love" Piper squeezed Alex's hand tightly in her own "Not a boring job, in a boring life with a boring boyfriend who I would predictably marry, pop out a couple of kids then wake up 30 years later and wonder where my life went"

Piper sighed it was a funny feeling now thinking back to how she felt at the time especially now when she was so happy with Alex "At the same time I didn't want to disappoint you so I hid it all; Alex, the adventures, that part of myself"

Bill nodded sadly "We never did understand why you were so unhappy after your supposed 'travelling with Polly'. You had no interest in anything or anybody for such a long time afterwards, your mother insisted it was just holiday blues at being back home but I knew it was something else"

Piper watched as Alex's eyebrows twitched slightly and she knew she was surprised to hear how unhappy Piper was after she left her.

"I broke my own heart the day I broke Alex's I just didn't realise until I was back in the safe and stable life I thought I was missing. Just goes to show you don't always know how much you need something until it isn't there anymore. I know I healed and moved on with Larry but still sometimes I wonder"

Piper smiled sadly at her dad and she was surprised when Alex pulled her into a gentle hug kissing her cheek as she did.

"It all turned out for the b..best Kid don't fret over a past you cannot change"

Piper hummed in response her smile brightening as she noticed Bill looking at Alex with nothing but admiration and she could feel emotion beginning to build behind her eyes.

"Right enough reminiscing, you two will need to leave soon if you want enough time to actually be able to buy presents for everybody today"

Alex coughed loudly then cleared her throat before she chuckled hoarsely "Who's 'everybody'? I've got Nicky and your dad who else do I have to buy for?"

Piper opened her mouth in mock shock and swatted at Alex's arm as Bill chuckled in the background before he winked at Piper, his face smirking mischievously "Carol who else?"

"So you got everyone's gifts here apart from mine - which I totally don't understand why you've hidden away I can actually control myself - and Vause's? What you buying that sexy mother fucker?"

Nicky was sat crossed legged in her living room surrounded by tinsel, baubles and wrapping paper while Piper was running around like a mad woman trying to wrap presents, write cards and put string on baubles all at the same time.

"It disturbs me how much you seem to lust after my fiancée do I need to be worried?"

Nicky just laughed loudly and stuck a bow to Piper's forehead "Nah she's all your's champ have you seen the sickening way she looks at you? Soft as shit that one which so isn't my thing"

Piper stopped her present wrapping for a moment as she beamed at Nicky causing her wild haired friend to chuckle and shake her head "You don't seem to be answering me Chapman what you bought?"

"Nothing"

Nicky gave a yeah right and laughed but Piper just carried on with her wrapping, smirking at Nicky's disbelieving look "I'm not lying I haven't technically bought her anything"

"You going to wrap yourself up in some ribbon with some strategically placed bows"

Piper blushed hard she had been there and done that the first Christmas out of Litchfield. It had been the second time Alex had made her squirt something which her love had been immensely proud about.

"You kinky bitch Chapman!"

"No! That isn't what I'm doing"

"Hmmm why so secretive then?"

Piper shook her head she felt unsure about her plan for Alex on Christmas morning and was a little afraid of admitting out loud in case Nicky thought it stupid.

"My plan is to take her to Paris once she's finished with her treatment so technically I don't have anything to give her" Nicky just looked at her blankly and Piper felt she needed to explain "I want us to have some happy memories in the place that holds quite a painful part in both our hearts I want to make it right, prove that we've come full circle"

Nicky still didn't say a word and Piper looked down at her lap feeling deflated "I thought it was a good idea"

"It is Piper it's a wonderful idea she'll be thrilled I'm sure"

Piper lifted her head and smiled hesitantly "Do you think?"

Nicky smiled reassuringly and plucked the bow from Piper's forehead "Yeah I really do"

They continued to wrap the gifts and then tidied up the mess of discarded paper and tape before they settled on the couch a beer for Nicky, wine for Piper.

"What time are they coming home?"

Piper frowned at the clock it was already half past 6. Piper presumed that they would be back by now but she was resisting the urge to call her father for fear of fussing.

"Soon I think, my dad has some thing planned with my mum later and if he's late there will be hell to pay"

Nicky just raised her eyebrows "Your mother sounds like a bit of a handful Chapman"

Piper snorted "Oh you have no idea"

Piper's relationship with her mother had been strained ever since she had got back with Alex and even more so since everything with Alex's illness. Piper knew it was because deep down her mother still wished that Piper would settle down meet a nice man and have children something which saddened Piper. She wished her mother could just accept her happiness and let her own idea of what Piper needed to be happy go.

"We should introduce our mothers some time I'm sure they would get along like a house on fire they seem to be from the same mould"

Piper nodded she was grateful to have Nicky in her life she understood exactly what it was like to grow up the black sheep of the family with a mother that prioritised her own happiness and appearance rather than that of her children's.

"I hope they're back soon Alex hasn't been too good these last couple of days"

Nicky sat up her face going uncharacteristically serious and her fingers began to worry at the label across her beer bottle "What's been the matter?"

"She's been coughing and wheezing complaining of a headache and-"

"Oh for fucks sake Chapman calm your tits, sounds to me like she's got a pissing cold! For a moment there I was beginning to worry!"

Piper smarted at Nicky's words and looked at her indignantly "Well I am worried she's still recovering from major surgery!"

"You worry too much its December everybody gets a cough and cold she'll be fine"

Nicky waved her hand as she spoke dismissing Piper before she replied and Piper found herself feeling stupid. It was true she knew she was probably overreacting but she couldn't help it she was naturally cautious and hesitant anything out of the ordinary caused her to stress and worry.

Loud voices startled Piper from her thoughts and she rolled her eyes as she recognised her fiancée and father's voices singing Christmas songs out of tune loudly in the corridor outside. She stood and went over to the door smiling at the sight through the spy hole of them both laughing loudly their faces flushed.

"Come on, in you come before I get complaints from the neighbours"

Bill grinned and kissed Piper on the cheek "I best not come in I'm already late we did a little whisky tasting in Selfridges and lost track of time"

"Are you ok to drive?!"

Bill just laughed "Oh yes this one here did most of the 'tasting' if you get my drift"

Piper turned furiously to look at Alex who was giggling in her wheelchair like a naughty child.

"Don't be cross we've had a great time and whisky is practically medicinal it's definitely kept the cold at bay and it'll have warmed her chest, help shift that pesky cough"

Piper just kissed her dads cheek disgruntled and pushed him back out of the door "You two are going to be the death of me"

Bill laughed not looking at all guilty "Probably, now I'm going see you on Christmas Eve remember your mother should be coming as well so make sure there's plenty of wine to keep her sweet!"

Piper just laughed as her father waved and pressed a kiss to Alex's cheek as he left. She shut the door turning to look down at Alex, with her arms folded, who was smirking up at her.

"What am I going to do with you?"

Alex leant forwards and clumsily wrapped her arms around Piper's waist pulling her so that she was now sat on her knee.

"Oh there are plenty of things I'd like you to do to me Kid"

Alex's right hand rose up and palmed at Piper's breast her fingers seeking out her nipple. Piper's breath hitched and her cheeks flushed when she heard Nicky snigger and she turned her head to Alex her eyebrows coming up in warning as Alex smirked at her seductively.

"Behave we've got a guest"

Alex pouted moodily and began trying to look around Piper to see who it was that was interrupting. Her face relaxed into a cheeky smile and Piper shook her head when she looked at Nicky who was grinning wildly with her thumbs up.

"It's only Nichols I b..bet she would love to watch me fuck you seven ways 'til Sunday. She can take notes b..bet she's never seen anything as impressive as me in the b..bedroom"

Alex smirked cockily and Piper rolled her eyes as Nicky burst into a fit of giggles.

"Jesus Vause we need to get you drunk more often it's fuckin' hilarious"

"I'm only speaking the truth Nic' come on what do you say you wanna stay for the show?"

Nicky looked as if she was actually considering it and Piper stood up abruptly "Right bed for you I think"

Seizing the handles of Alex's wheelchair she began to push her through to the bedroom "See how eager she is? B..Bet you can't get a woman to drag you this quickly to b..bed Nichols"

"No you're obviously quite the charmer aren't you Vause"

Piper gestured to a still giggling Nicky that she would be back in a minute and quickly pushed Alex through to the bedroom.

Piper gathered Alex's negligee and pulled the covers back on their bed, turning on the bedside lamp as she turned back towards her fiancée. Piper smiled softly as she watched Alex's eyes becoming heavy a drunken smile still spread on her lips.

"Come on get hold of my shoulders"

Alex's warm weight settled on her as Piper hoisted Alex out of her chair and gently placed her on the bed. Alex did not lower her arms instead she snuggled her head into Piper's neck letting out a contented sigh. Piper squeezed her tightly her heart swelling at the feel of Alex in her arms, she would never take this feeling for granted ever again. She slowly began stripping away Alex's clothes laughing internally as Alex's eyes had already begun to flutter with tiredness. Whiskey always had this affect on Alex if she was drunk on beer they would fuck all night long if Alex had her way but too much whiskey sent her to sleep and Piper knew she would be out like a light in no time.

Alex started to wheeze and cough suddenly her chest sounded constricted and Piper frowned "I'll just go and get you some water"

Piper went to the bathroom and filled a large glass coming back into the room she smiled as Alex was already lying down her hair spread out over the pillow. Pulling the covers up over Alex Piper made sure she was tucked in, her body fully covered and she pressed a kiss to her head tenderly.

"Sleep my darling"

Piper frowned lightly as she pulled away and she placed a gentle hand to Alex's head. Her skin was hot to touch and Piper couldn't decide whether it was the drink or her body fighting the cold. Piper swallowed down her nerves determined to stop her fussing and made the decision to see how Alex was in the morning, trying to rouse her now would be near damn impossible.

Piper pressed one last kiss to Alex's lips and squeezed the hand tightly in her own "Love you" was her mumbled response and Piper smiled "I love you too"

Turning out the light Piper tiptoed out of the room and closed the bedroom door softly before she turned into the living room and was greeted with the sight of a smirking Nicky.

"Well thank fuck for that! For a moment there I thought I was gonna have to start scrabbling around for some headphones!"