A/N - I am so sorry that this took so long to write. I hit a little period of crazy in my life. Thank you again for all the comments and follows and favorites! I really do appreciate it! I hope you guys are still into this. I will say that this chapter is more about Piper than Alex, but there will be plenty more story following up with Alex.

"Piper, are you ever going to leave the house?" Polly called from the kitchen. "I said you can stay, not become one with the couch!"

"I know, you're right. I'm sorry." Piper got up and joined Polly in the kitchen.

"You should get out. This isn't healthy."

"Where am I going to go? I don't want to go places alone; I certainly don't want to go back to the apartment without Alex." Piper hesitated to say 'because I don't know if that's too dangerous.' in front of Polly.

"What are you going to do now? Like, for work? Go back to waitressing?"

"Ugh, maybe but that sounds terrible."

Polly stood at the oven with a thermometer to check on the soap that she was making.

"Jesus, Pol that smells good."

Polly looked at the soap and looked to Piper. "You know, we could do this."

"What?"

"We could do this. For a living. For money. What if we made soap and lotions and everything and sold them? In farmer's markets, little boutiques. You know. It keeps me out of an office, and people immediately love you."

"Seriously? You'd want me to do this with you? I don't know a thing about making lotion or soap."

"You'd learn from me. Seriously. It's not that hard. Pete sometimes helps, and if he can, you can."

Piper thought about this for a moment as she mindlessly arranged bottles of essential oils. 'This is something good. Legit. Nothing illegal and could potentially support us when Alex comes back home. I can do this. And thank fuck it's not waitressing.'

Piper reached for a pair of rubber gloves, "Okay, show me what to do!"

After making many blocks of soap and cleaning up, Piper and Polly were relaxing finally over some wine.

"So, what's the deal? Seriously. You never come home without Supercunt."

"I really wish you wouldn't call her that, Pol." Piper sighed.

"Are you staying for good this time? Because I kind of miss the shit out of you. If I have to put up with her to see you, I will."

"I think we are. Alex is just finishing up some stuff with work and then-"

"You still never told me what she does. Imports what?"

Piper just shrugged. 'I wish I could tell you Polly. I hate lying to you. Maybe when Alex is home, I can tell her. Once she's safe and out.'

"Expensive shit. Depends on what the buyers are looking for." Piper hoped that was a good enough lie.

"Aren't you supposed to see her mom too?"

'Shit, the letter.' Piper thought to herself. "Yeah. I've kind of been pushing it off a few days. I should go tomorrow."

"If you need the car, just let me know. It's Saturday, and we can use Pete's car if we really need to go somewhere." Polly yawned. "I'm heading to bed."

"Thanks, brat."

"Goodnight, lesbian!"

Piper put the car into park and shut off the engine. She took the keys out and looked to the right out the window to Diane Vause's house. Piper had been here before, and had met Diane more than a few times, but never without Alex. Piper had spent many moments with Diane, mornings where they would meet in the kitchen when Piper woke up before Alex and tiptoed downstairs for coffee or breakfast. Diane was loving, affectionate; things Piper had craved from her own family. For some reason, Piper was filled with anxiety about this visit.

Piper tried to breathe out the nervousness that was pulsating through her body. 'What am I going to say to this woman? Just be the nice lady and deliver the letter to her.' Piper opened up the car door and got out, so focused on walking towards the screened in porch that she didn't even hear the car door slam. She awkwardly hit the alarm button twice for the car, faintly hearing the horn sound that announced the alarm was set, but never looking back. Three steps up and she opened the screen door and knocked.

"Hang on a second!" Piper heard yelled from inside.

The door flew open and Diane and Piper just stood there for what seemed to be forever, but had to be just mere seconds.

"Piper! Hi! Where's Alex? Come in!" Diane opened the door wider and side-stepped to let Piper in.

"Hi Diane!" Once she was inside, Diane grabbed Piper into a huge hug.

"Where's Allie?"

Piper smiled at the adorable nickname Diane used for Alex as she pulled out of the hug.

"Alex is still overseas, finishing up some work. She'll be home in a couple weeks." Piper hoped that this would appease her without too many questions.

"Oh." Diane said with a hint of sadness in her tone. "Well, don't just stand there, come in! Sit down! Do you want something? Coffee? Water?"

"I'll just have some water if that's okay, thanks." Piper remembered just how strong Diane's coffee was, and thought twice about being awake until 4 in the morning without Alex to tire her out.

"Sure thing." Diane headed off to the kitchen. Piper sat on the couch. The house brought so many memories back to Piper and made her miss Alex even more. Piper remembered the first time that Alex had brought her home, and Diane immediately yelling at Piper for not calling her 'Diane,' "Mrs. Vause is my dead mother, and I ain't dead yet." Another time when Alex and Piper had been a bit too loud during their nightly activities that when they came downstairs in the morning, Diane handed them their coffee cups and said with a smile: "We're gonna haveta look into soundproofing that room of yours, Allie." and shared a booming laugh with Alex while Piper blushed so much so she could practically feel her face on fire, and had to excuse herself. Piper touched her cheek at the memory.

It was only a moment later that Diane returned, water glass in one hand and a refilled coffee mug in the other. She placed them both on the coffee table and sat down in the chair opposite Piper.

"So what brings you all the way here? Alex wanted you to check up on me?" She flourished her hand down her body. "I'm still alive and sittin' here!"

Piper gave a small laugh. "Yeah, she wanted me to check in on you, since we haven't been home in a while." She turned and pulled the envelope out of her purse. "Alex wanted me to give this to you."

Diane's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she took the envelope from Piper. "What's this?"

"I'm really not sure. Alex just asked me to stop by, check in and give you that." Piper gestured to the letter.

Diane turned it over in her hands and started to open the envelope.

"I should probably go." Piper started to get up off of the couch.

"Sit down. I'm reading this and then you're going to tell me what the hell is going on."

Piper sat down and felt her anxiety build again. 'How can I lie to her mother? God, I'm terrible. This is terrible. I just should have mailed it. I just wish Alex was here to do all of this in person.'

Diane's eyes started to scan the pages.

Mom,

I want you to know that I love you.

I asked Piper to come to see you because I want to know that you are all right and safe. I never expected to have to do this in a letter, but in case something happens, you need to know all of this.

I work for an international drug cartel.

Usually that line would have been followed with a laugh to stave off how ridiculous it sounds, but it's the honest truth. I have worked for them for the last 10 years and started when I met my dad. The band were clients of a guy I met that night who got me into the cartel. I wasn't going to school, I wasn't working. This seemed like the best possible move to get out of New Jersey for me. I have spent the last 10 years moving money and moving drugs and it's kept me happy and greatly compensated for that time. I did it really well. I would say you'd be proud, but given the nature of what I do, I don't think you'd approve. All of this used to keep me happy, until now. Until I realized just how much I love Piper.

I love Piper, Ma.

She's the best thing that's ever happened to me and I want to make her happy. I want to marry this girl and I want to have the best possible life with her for as long as I can. I can't continue to drag her around this illegal shit with me. I have to make things right. I have to fix them to make you and her safe.

So, I'm leaving the cartel. That's why I'm not there.

I never wanted to tell you all of this. I was hoping I would just leave when I was ready and we'd never have to have a discussion about this. You worked so hard to give me the best that you could when I was younger. You raised me better than this to fall in with some of these scumbags. I wanted it so that you never had to work yourself to the bone again; never have to worry about money again. So I am leaving. I can't lie to you anymore.

I'm worried, Ma. I'm scared that I'm not going to come home and I'm stuck in all this shit. If something happens, don't worry about everything. It's all taken care of. I want you to be happy.

I wanted you to know everything. No more secrets. I love you so much.

When I get home, I'll go into as much detail as you want. Or as little. Please don't hate me for all of this. I promise I am trying to right all the wrongs I've done.

And please don't be too hard on Piper, she's only doing what I asked. If you ask her questions, tell her I said it's okay to tell you everything, otherwise she will try to cover for me, and at this point I don't deserve it.

I really should be there to tell you all of this in person. I will be as soon as I possibly can.

I love you, Ma. See you soon.

Love,

Alex

Piper watched as Diane's eyes filled with tears and started rolling down her face. Diane got up from the chair and sat next to Piper on the couch. Piper pulled her into a comforting embrace.

"Do you love her?" Diane asked between sobs.

"Yes. Immensely." Piper answered.

"Why didn't she tell me? She said you can tell me." Diane pointed to the line in the letter.

"She didn't want you to be disappointed in her. She's very proud. You know that."

"She said she's giving this up for you."

"Yes, I know. I want to be with her for as long as I can. I don't want that shortened by her job."

"Piper, promise me that you will take care of her. When she comes back, you need to be there for her."

"I will, Diane. I always will." Piper could feel the tears start falling on her own face.

They sat there together both missing Alex and crying out the fear, the pain and years of lies. Diane broke from the embrace and took Piper by the shoulders.

"Piper." Piper looked up at Diane. "You can call me Mom, now."