Chapters 12-15 are the course of a single day.

Letting the rubber band snap into place around her ponytail, Piper toggled the cursor up a few sentences to reread everything she'd written. The bright green of the terminal display lit up the room around her and her notepad. She read the notes on her pad as she scanned the paragraphs, making tick marks next to each for the things she'd already covered. Lighting a cigarette, she decided to insert one more sentence as a transition, before moving on.

The first few paragraphs left her feeling satisfied the story was flowing in the right direction. She was pleased with the progress she was making. As her fingers flew over the keyboard, the sound of the steading clicking of keys was almost musical. Focused on the words that appeared on the display, she barely registered the creak of the wooden stair behind her. Taking a drag from the cigarette between her teeth, she hit return to start the next paragraph. For a moment she wondered what the response would be to this article.

The smoke curled up out of her mouth as she typed, her eyelid felt like it was burning, so she exhaled to move the air faster. Her fingers typing as fast as she could make the words emerge on screen. She took another quick drag; just as a warm hand gently touched her shoulder.

"You really are a newspaperman." Alex quietly croaked through the smoke. "You know that, right?"

Piper glanced up over her shoulder to see Alex standing with her hand shielding her eyes. She reached out and dialed down the brightness of the terminal to a soft glow. "Is that better?" She whispered for Alex's benefit knowing she'd just woken up.

"No." Alex's other hand moved over her right shoulder to her collar, letting her warm fingers rest on Piper's skin. "Now come back to bed."

"Sorry." She didn't stop typing, "I can't. I have to finish this." She heard Alex's displeased grumble and wanted to relent, but the article had to be finished so she could print the special Diamond City edition in the morning. She wanted nothing more than to be snuggled up next to Alex in bed, but this couldn't wait.

Alex's hands moved onto her chest as Alex bent down to her, over her shirt. "Do I even want to know what time it is?" Alex rested her head on Piper's shoulder waiting for a response.

Piper pulled her bare feet up onto the chair, crossing her legs, she leaned back into Alex and took a hit from the cigarette. This game wasn't new. They played it every time Piper woke up with a story idea in her head. It was a game Alex always won in the end. Piper was just prolonging inevitable defeat, relishing the fact the woman was willing to work as hard as she did every time they played. Back at Publick, the terminal was upstairs, right next to her bed. She'd never considered that it would disturb someone else because she'd never brought anyone home. She had Nat to consider, and none of the women she'd seen in the past were worth making any changes for. But Alex? Alex was worth it enough to change everything, for both her and Nat. She smirked as she typed, knowing Alex couldn't be comfortable in that position. "Probably not."

Alex lifted her hand, holding her fingers apart in question, "Ok, what time is it?"

Piper took another drag before answering, "It's three."

Alex grumbled again, "Did you even sleep?"

Piper chuckled. "No, I had a story idea I wanted to work on."

"Newspaperman."

Piper stifled a giggle at the mumbled comment. She lifted the pad of paper next to her, but Alex didn't look at it. Piper shook her head at the woman, "You should go back to sleep. If Curie knew you were awake, she'd be pissed at me."

"She's a romantic. If she was going to be pissed at you, it'd be about you not being in bed with me at three in the morning." Piper let herself chuckle this time, knowing that her statement was true. Curie was a diehard romantic, which was surprising since when they first met her, she was an AI in a modified Miss Nanny model robot. When she was placed into a synthetic human body, Curie's love of romance intensified since she could fully experience emotion. Which somehow, her friend had become a bigger romantic than Piper, which was saying a lot.

Alex lifted her head from Piper's shoulder, "Give me a hit."

Piper put the smoke to Alex's lips and watched her inhale. She still hadn't opened her eyes and it made Piper smile. After dinner, they had disappeared upstairs to enjoy each other's company and Alex had fallen asleep after midnight. Now Piper felt a little guilty, "I'm sorry I woke you up."

Alex exhaled her breath, "You should be."

Piper snickered; she was only partially joking. She knew Alex hated it when she got out of bed in the middle of the night. Hence, their game.

"So, what's the idea and why is this terminal so bright?" Alex rubbed her eyes, then wrapped her arms around Piper. She buried her face in Piper's neck.

Piper grinned when Alex kissed her, tilting her head slightly to receive another, "I turned it all the way down. It doesn't get less bright."

"It does when it's off."

Piper rolled her eyes in amusement, "I can't exactly write when it's off."

"That's kind of the point."

Piper couldn't help the smile that was tugging at the corners of her mouth. Alex was too distracting for her own good. She took another drag from the cigarette. The game was almost over, she was losing her will to resist. "I want to draw the mayor out to see what he's up to. His ego will force him to answer. This piece will be perfect for it. He's going to get angry… probably enough to get me arrested. But if he's up to something, we'll know it."

"Splendid idea. You're poking the bear and I'm all for it. Now come back to bed. I need your cuddles. You can go back to being Lois Lane in the morning."

The comment caught Piper off guard, and she laughed. "Lois Lane? I'm a far better reporter, darling."

She felt Alex's smile against her skin. "I love it when you call me that," Alex whispered tightening her arms around Piper just a bit. "I always have."

"I'm glad you told me, I'll keep it in mind," Piper reached up and covered Alex's hands with her own. Feeling another kiss on her neck she couldn't help the question, "Why Lois Lane, darling?"

Pulling her hand free, Alex waved it comically in the air in front of Piper, "Just like Lois, you like getting yourself into a scrape whenever you can. Without a backup plan... Miss Acolyte of Atom."

Piper chuckled, "I need to stop telling you things."

"Or you can come back to bed, and I'll shut up."

"That'll never happen." Piper laughed.

Alex kissed her neck again, "Which?"

Piper ran her fingers through Alex's hair quickly, "You can't shut up about anything."

"Where's the love?"

Piper chuckled again, "I do love you… I also know you are incapable of passing on an opportunity to shit-talk anyone especially me."

"It's like you know me… now come back to bed so I can cuddle my Mistress of Mystery."

Piper stopped typing, "You don't still have that costume, do you?"

Alex just laughed, "My answer depends on whether you're done being Lois Lane for a few hours or not. But here's a big hint, the answer starts with a 'yeah' and ends with an 'ess'."

She resumed typing. "It's too big for me."

"I can tailor it."

"Might look okay, but only I wore high heels, and I can't walk in them." She was goading her; she couldn't help herself. She couldn't imagine herself in a dress or heels.

"Just wear it to bed…" Alex chuckled, kissing her neck again, "With the heels."

She stopped typing, "First, Lois Lane and now…" Piper lost her struggle to contain her laughter. The thought of wearing heels and a costume to bed was outrageously funny for some reason. She wasn't sure which was funnier, the Lois Lane comment or the costume, then another thought hit her. "Hold on… if I'm Lois Lane," The chair squeaked as she turned slightly to see Alex smiling with her eyes closed. "Are you my Superman then?"

"Supergirl."

The quick, deadpan way Alex delivered 'Supergirl' made her crack up laughing. "Lois Lane was in love with Superman, not Supergirl."

"Semantics." Alex took a breath, "I'm tall, blonde, amazing, and a girl. Therefore, Supergirl." She cracked an eye to look at Piper. The smirk she wore playfully antagonized Piper as if daring her to disagree.

"I suppose you're waiting for me to agree with you?" Slowly, she inhaled smoke, watching Alex.

"You like facts and truths. I just gave you four facts and one truth." For a long moment, Alex just observed her, the devious smile never fading from her lips. Finally, she inhaled deeply, and her smirk became a grin, "I am better than Superman in every way imaginable."

Piper chuckled, enjoying the new twist to their game. She could hold out a little longer for this, "My, my, Blue, is that… arrogance… I detect?"

"My dearest, Lois," Alex shifted her position, running her hands lightly over Piper's chest, "I'm happy to prove it if you'd like." Her hands traveled over Piper's breasts and worked their way down over her stomach then back to the middle of her sternum before stopping. Alex unfolded herself from the back of Piper's chair, gathering herself to her full height. She stepped to the side of Piper and put her hands on her hips, her smile becoming just a little wilier. "But only if you come back to bed. You want proof I'm Supergirl?"

Piper's eyebrow crept higher at the proposition. She took another drag from her cigarette, but this time she took all of Alex in, letting her eyes travel down her square jawline to the tiny cleft at the bottom of her chin. She leaned back in her chair, unfolding her legs and kicking her heels up onto her desk. Alex cocked her eyebrow looking down at Piper, her grin became just a tad broader. Her right hand twisted the hem of her shirt between her fingers, making the unbuttoned bottom open farther. Her left hand pushed the waistband of her shorts down slightly revealing her hip.

Piper continued her visual tour over the long-sleeved, dark blue, shirt Alex wore. She'd caught Alex shift her posture. The shirt was unbuttoned enough to follow the line from her neck to two buttons she'd bothered to button between her breasts. Piper exhaled the smoke slowly as her eyes lingered on Alex's exposed abdomen.

The chair squeaked a little as she leaned farther back in it. Admiring the distance between her cut-off, red, pajama shorts waistband and the bottom of Alex's shirt made Piper's lips stretch into a smile.

Alex shifted her hips and Piper chuckled quietly, giving her a better view of her muscular legs. Her physique and stature were every bit what she imagined for a superhero. Looking back up at Alex, she gave her the smugest expression she could muster, "Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. I am an investigative journalist after all. I want all the proof I can… uncover."

"We can safely say, you like to reveal things then?"

Piper let her eyebrow tick upward. "Oh, definitely."

Alex took the cigarette from Piper's hand and took a long drag from it. She crushed it out in the ashtray, then turned back to Piper. The grin she wore hadn't faded, but the hunger in her eyes was devastating. She moved behind Piper's office chair and leaning down turning her head, Alex exhaled the smoke, still watching Piper from the corner of her eye.

Piper could feel how wet she was getting. She pulled her feet from the desk, and Alex wrapped her arms around Piper again, "Oh, no, no, no, Miss Lane. You wanted proof. I'm going to give it to you."

Piper opened her mouth to speak but stopped as Alex moved closer to her. Her burning fingers slipped under Piper's chin, tipping Piper's head back. The heat of Alex's touch made her shiver as the air moving around them carried another wave of Alex's fragrance to Piper's nose, her floral scent heavy on Piper's tongue. Her fingers traced the line down the center of Piper's throat.

Alex kissed her gently, her smoky, honey-sweet lips flooding into Piper's mouth. Alex's fingers traced the smallest, softest circles under Piper's chin and along her neck. Alex trailed her lips, down over the bottom of Piper's lip. The gentle force she used as she moved lower over Piper's chin, riveted Piper in place. Piper shivered feeling Alex's lips against her jaw. Piper was trembling against the exquisitely slow, meandering way Alex trailed light kisses to her neck. The sensations that coursed through Piper came in static pulses, each precipitating the lower Alex worked along her throat down to the curve where her collar and neck met.

Piper groaned, she could hear her heart in her ears, thumping with each kiss Alex imparted. Her ragged breath was the cadence Alex's hands kept as they roamed her shoulders, to her arms, and worked their way over her chest. The material bunching everywhere Alex's hands moved.

Alex worked at the buttons on Piper's pajama top, her lips exploring Piper's neck slowly. Piper wove her fingers into Alex's hair, pulling her harder against her body, demanding more. The fog of lust blurred her mind as Alex pushed her shirt from her shoulders.

"Take me to bed… or you're going to owe me a new chair."

Alex laughed into the nape of her neck and Piper opened her eyes to look at her. "You asked for it," Alex moved her chair, partially spinning Piper around, tugging her to her feet so quickly, that it surprised Piper. In the next second Alex flipped Piper over her shoulder.

Piper swatted at Alex's butt, "Blue… oh my god! You're still healing! Put me down!"

Alex laughed, walked down the wooden steps, and tossed Piper onto the bed. "You said take you to bed."

Piper gave her a filthy look, "I didn't mean to kill yourself doing it!" She walked on her knees to the edge of the bed to inspect Alex.

"I'm fine, doll, really. I'm not even sore anymore." Alex caught Piper's hands as they moved to undo the buttons on her shirt.

"That's not possible," Piper pushed Alex's hands aside and undid the buttons, pushing the shirt open to inspect her. "You could hardly move earlier."

Alex pulled the shirt off and let it drop to the floor, "I promise you. I'm okay. See for yourself."

Her eyes were drawn to the scars the yao guai left, a miserable trophy from Alex's first near-death experience in the Commonwealth, now just over three months old. "It's only been a few hours." She tracked the marks it left on her skin, down the middle of her chest with her hands. Tracing her hand over the left side of Alex's chest, she moved slowly to the gunshot wound in her left shoulder. The bullet had missed her subclavian artery by a single inch. She'd overheard Curie tell Cait she would have bled out.

"Piper…"

She let her hand come to a rest, looking back up into where Alex's eyes hid in the darkness. "You don't hurt at all?"

Alex cupped her cheek, "No. I don't." Piper gave her a disbelieving look, not sure whether Alex was being truthful. Alex's fingers kept stroking Piper's cheek tenderly, "I wouldn't lie to you. I'm telling you; nothing hurts anymore."

Piper let her hands travel over Alex's sides and finally to her stomach where she'd been stabbed. "That's… amazing."

Alex lifted her chin, forcing Piper to look at her. She beamed at Piper, "Just call me Supergirl."

Piper laughed, a genuine heartfelt laugh, hugging Alex close. "Don't make me worry about you any more than I already do." She savored feeling Alex's arms wrapped around her, the warmth of her soft skin against Piper's own. It was everything Piper wanted, just to hold her close without the cares of the world intruding on them.

"I can't lose you," Piper whispered into Alex's scarred chest.

Alex rested her head on top of Piper's, "I'm sorry, Piper. I really am." Alex sighed sadly, "I didn't mean… I'm sorry I hurt you."

Piper squeezed her tighter, trying to hold her own emotions at bay. This wasn't the time to get teary-eyed. Plus, she was sick of crying, she'd done it enough over the last several days. Being with Alex was far more important than worrying about what could have happened. "No… No more apologies. You saved Nat and me. That's not something to apologize for."

"I'm apologizing for the pain I caused you. Not…" Alex sighed and gave her a small smile, "The things you've done for me… You've saved me in more ways than you'll ever know."

"Looks like we're even then." Piper wrapped her finger in a golden lock and gave it a light tug, "Now, shut up and kiss me."

Alex carefully pulled the rubber band from Piper's hair, then ran fingers through it slowly. Piper felt it tickling her shoulder blades as Alex let it fall. She tilted Piper's head back still smiling, "Have I told you how much I love your hair this long?"

Piper smiled brightly, enjoying the feeling of her hands in her hair, "Twice. Once earlier and just…"

Alex kissed her. The softness of her lips gave way only to hunger. The heat between them made Piper's body feel like it was vibrating. The pull Alex had over her was breathtaking, drawing up her emotions from the well deep inside her.

Piper pressed her tongue to Alex's lips, begging for entry. Her own needs begged desperately for the woman, imploring her to banish her sorrow by burning it away with her desire. Alex's hands tugged at her hair, pulling it, instantly turning Piper on. The throb in her abdomen was a painful reminder of how wet she was. Piper slipped her hands into Alex's hair, weaving her fingers tightly into it. Alex's arm wrapped around Piper's waist, pulling her closer. Alex unwound her hand from her hair, cradling her head instead, guiding Piper down into the sheets as they deepened their kiss.

Piper dug her heels into the mattress. Her entire body longed to be caressed by teasing fingers and indulgent lips. She shivered against the cool air that mingled lazily with their body heat. Raised her hips, she tried to grind herself into Alex to gain some relief from the painful throbbing between her legs. Her hands explored Alex's shoulders and over her sides, finally riding up her smooth back. Everywhere they touched, it was like their skin carried an electrical charge between them. Alex's body was so warm, it nearly burned her skin.

Piper's heart was slamming against her ribs. Her breath caught in her throat as Alex moved, straddling one of Piper's legs. Her hands brushed Piper's hair back, burying themselves in her soft, black tresses. Even as Alex's hands continued to move, Piper felt her heat through her own hair. Her lips moved in time with Alex's delicate own, her tongue tasting the older woman's sweetness.

Piper pushed Alex's hair from her face as Alex broke from their kiss. Her hands moved over Piper's sides and chest, as she kissed Piper's jaw and down her throat.

Every part of Piper was on fire, her body burning with desire while her lover was purposefully being excruciatingly slow to quench it. Piper ground her hips into Alex, as Alex's tongue slowly circled her nipple, before closing her mouth around it. Alex's hand slid under Piper's waistband. Her fingers danced delicately close to where Piper wanted them. So close to where Piper needed them to sate her lust. Digging her fingers into Alex's muscular back, she thrust her hips into Alex's hand, making her feel how wet she was. "Don't you dare torment me," Piper whispered feverishly. "I want you so badly it hurts."

Alex lifted herself off Piper, she kneeled, and pulled her hand from Piper's pajamas. "God damnit you are such a tease," Piper tried to sit up, but Alex shoved her back down into the pillows.

"I have every intention of fucking you." She grabbed Piper's waistband and Piper realized the growls were coming from the back of Alex's throat. She pulled Piper's pajamas roughly from her body and threw them across the room. "Your clothes are in my way."

Piper grabbed Alex's arm, sitting up, she wrapped her other arm around Alex, and flipped her on the bed, "You aren't fucking me fast enough." She pinned Alex's hands down and straddled her. Her feet rested on Alex's thighs.

Alex laughed hard in surprise at how quick Piper was, "Ok, that was good. Where'd you learn to do that?"

Piper let her hands slide down Alex's arms as she lowered herself. Her hair fell like a black curtain over Alex's golden waves. Piper's lips brushed Alex as she slowly shook her head with a dark chuckle. "Oh no, I'm not going to give away all my secrets. You'll need to get that out of me somehow." She kissed Alex teasingly, "Preferably soon before I get bored and go back to work."

Alex's jaw opened in disbelief as she stared at Piper, "You wouldn't."

Piper let go, sitting up again, "Goodness, Blue, wouldn't I?" She batted her eyes playfully, biting her lower lip, "Sometimes, I don't think you know me at all." Piper started to climb off Alex. She was egging her on. The challenge to Alex's dominance would be the catalyst she needed to get laid. She was banking on the woman's inability to leave her challenge unanswered, especially if she called her boring. Besides, she was dying. She needed to be touched.

Alex's eyes flew wide, and she caught Piper by the wrists, "Let me rephrase that."

"Too what, doll face?" Piper smirked at the grip Alex held her in.

Alex pulled her down on top of herself, "You aren't going anywhere." She pulled Piper into a heated kiss, while shifting under her and pulling her to the side so Piper was forced to straddle her right leg. She forced her thigh up against Piper, holding her in place, her hand knotting her hair around her fist.

Piper ground her hips into Alex's thigh, sighing loudly into her mouth. Alex pushed her hand between them. Her fingers instantly became slick with Piper's juices. Piper moaned louder, as Alex slipped inside her. Her hips bucked against Alex's fingers, and she felt her push them deep inside her. Alex let go of her hair and Piper pushed herself up. "About time you figured it out." She bucked her hips hard against Alex.

"You keep letting that smart mouth get the better of you," Alex sat up, gripping Piper's hair roughly this time, thrusting her fingers harder into Piper. "Harder!" She cried out, the force Alex used instantly made her delirious. Shifting Alex's grip, she thrust herself against Alex "Don't you even think about stopping," Piper gasped, holding on tightly to Alex's arms, hungry for every exquisite bit of Alex she could get.

Piper wanted more. She needed it. She grabbed Alex's hair harshly, the low growl in the back of Alex's throat fueling her lust. She rocked her hips, the sweat forming on her skin the tell-tale sign of her rising need. She twisted her fingers in Alex's hair, feeling the sharp thrust of Alex pushed against her bucking hips. Tightening her grip on Alex's bicep, Piper pulled herself into Alex more, "Blue, harder!" She gasped loudly as Alex pushed another finger inside of her.

Piper wanted Alex to feel everything she was feeling. Somehow, she thought it would make what she was experiencing more intense, more delicious somehow. Piper tore the leg of Alex's shorts, and shoved Alex backwards, forcing her down into the mattress. "I want more," Piper kissed her roughly, pushing her hand into Alex's torn shorts. This time, Alex growled ferally into Piper's mouth when Piper plunged her fingers deep into Alex.

Piper could feel Alex's heart beating with her own as they fell into a rhythm. Every sound they made matched the pace their bodies set. Piper gripped Alex's hair, her hips working against Alex's fingers. Her own fingers worked hard, matching Alex's cadence. The sweat between them was liquid heat. The slick, wet, lust that her fingers were buried in turned Piper on more. The loud moans that escaped her were beyond Piper's ability to control and she didn't care. Alex pressed her thigh against her hand, shoving Piper's hips aggressively. It didn't take long for either of them to climax with as rough and how turned on as they both were.

"Looks like someone's not getting out of bed after all." Alex panted amused. "Maybe now you'll tell me who showed you that move."

Piper laughed, kissing down Alex's chest, "You'll need to work harder to get that out of me."

Alex grabbed Piper's arm, flipped their positions on the bed, and pinned her down, "If you insist..."

Blinking awake, Piper's eyes burned from lack of sleep. As tired as she was, she figured it was still fairly early in the morning. The soft, green light emanating from the terminal was just bright enough to irritate her eyes, but not bright enough to chase the shadows that filled the room away. Nor did she have any indication of what time it was. Covering her face with the blanket, Piper tried to ignore the light while she relaxed in bed.

Nestling farther into the pillows on her right side she ran her hand gently over Alex's hair who was tucked into her. Alex's arm was bent, her forearm against Piper's thighs, her left hand resting on the side of Piper's bare left thigh. Alex's head was tucked into Piper's chest, and her right arm was wrapped around Piper. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling Alex's floral scent that merged with the salty aroma of sweat spiced with sex. Piper closed her eyes, trying to will herself to go back to sleep or get out of bed. After a while, she couldn't bring herself to do either.

Piper had fallen asleep in the nude, and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. Opening her eyes again, she contemplated whether she felt uncomfortable with it since she never slept undressed. People in the Commonwealth learned from an early age to sleep in clothing and have everything right next to them in case of an attack. Her lips curled up as her hand moved over Alex's back. She was also still bare. She decided she could live with it this one time since she didn't want to move, and she didn't want to wake Alex a second time in one night.

Her fingers went back to stroking Alex's scalp. The slow, methodical message was soothing for her, allowing her a small amount of quiet time to think and relax. Listening to the measured rhythm of Alex's breathing, Piper let her thoughts carry her wherever they may.

There were times in the past when Piper had woken up and found herself wrapped in Alex. The protective embrace lulled her deeper into sleep most nights. On the road, the nights they slept together were warm and Piper felt cared for. The corner of her mouth curled up as she thought about some of the nights in the past when she dared to steal chaste kisses while the older woman slept. She had longed to wake Alex so many times she'd lost count. Every time she did, it had started with a kiss and her desire for more.

If Piper had been a courageous person, she'd have woken Alex so many nights ago when they'd first slept in the same bed. Piper closed her eyes and held a kiss to the top of Alex's head. She thought again about how a single careless comment to Mama Murphy had started the unfortunate string of events that had prevented them from having a romantic relationship sooner. She sighed into Alex's hair thinking about her blocks she'd put in place holding her back. Her eyes were burning still but not just from the lack of sleep anymore.

The darker wave of thoughts swept her contemplations to Alex being a ghoul. In a way, she was grateful for it. They'd never had the chance to have a relationship because the yao guai would have killed her if she wasn't a ghoul. If not with its bite, then with the bacteria it carried in its mouth and claws. She closed her eyes, feeling the burning tears that slipped down her face and into Alex's hair. She couldn't stop it. The pain in her chest twinged as the screams ricocheted in her head while the smell of blood choked the back of her throat forcing her to fight the urge to cough.

Focusing on her breathing, she took calming breaths. The last thing she wanted to do was wake Alex up, crying and gagging for air. She didn't want to explain the pain of the last three months to her. It was worse knowing she needed to move on from the guilt and helplessness she was wallowing in. She tried to think about being together rather than concentrating on the horror that had built a circus of despair in her head.

Piper twirled a single golden lock around her finger, trying to push the blood and screams away. Lying in bed with Alex she longed to allow herself to feel good. She lifted the lock to her nose, smelling the floral scent again. There was something elusive about the smell that made the flowers difficult to place. It was also unique to Alex and that alone allowed her a small amount of happiness because she felt like that was just for her.

Alex was just for her, and that thought comforted Piper. She twisted another lock around her finger. Looking at it in the greenish light, she let her mind roam the enigmatic past of the woman in bed with her.

She wondered how names were changed in Alex's time. "Alexandra." Piper paused mid-whisper, the weirdness of calling Alex by her proper name struck her. "Alexandra," She repeated more slowly, listening to how the name sounded in her voice. She broke it apart by syllables, "Alexandra." She paused thinking about how her name sounded and why it seemed so odd when she said it.

Alex opened her eyes, but Piper didn't notice.

"Alexandra. Dare. Jansen." Piper let Alex's full name roll out of her mouth slowly. Her maiden name changed Piper's perception of her altogether. It sounded foreign. "Alexandra. Dare. Sterling." It was what she was used to hearing, even if Alex's name was shortened. "Alex," Piper practiced whispering her name lovingly.

Alex waited, unmoving. She wasn't sure why Piper was saying her name, she'd never done it before.

"Alex Sterling," Piper smiled thinking about the sound of her name. "General Alexandra Dare Sterling." Piper giggled and slapped her hand over her mouth trying to cover the sound. "General Alex Sterling," She playfully whispered her name in a gruff, bass voice. "General Sterling," Piper giggled again. It sounded so out-of-place to call Alex anything but Blue that it was comical.

Alex almost laughed at Piper's amusement. She was lost as to what she was doing and was about to ask when Piper kissed the top of her head.

Alex was her… Piper paused, thinking about the word she wanted to complete that sentence with. "We've lost your traditions and I'm sorry about that. I don't know that much about them." Piper chortled, "Okay, I don't know anything at all about them at all except what I read in books. And I don't think most of that was true."

Alex furrowed her brow in question, confused by what she'd woken up to. She couldn't smell alcohol, so she knew Piper wasn't drunk.

"I don't understand why you took your husband's name. Was it required?" Alex was about to answer when Piper continued. "Would you take mine now?"

Alex stopped and held her breath.

"Alexandra. Dare. Wright." Piper stroked Alex's hair, not realizing Alex was fully awake and listening to her. "I like the sound of that." Piper kissed her head again, "It has a nice ring to it."

Alex tried to stifle the smile on her face. She knew Piper would feel her moving and she wanted to hear what she had to say.

Piper giggled nervously, "Not that I'd ever ask you to change your name." She sighed, "Hell, don't even call you by your name." She paused thinking about it, "But God, does 'Blue' ever fit you." She moved Alex's hair behind her ear, still not realizing she was awake. "I don't think I'd have a right to ask for something like that when I lack the courage to tell you how important you are to me." She let her cheek rest on the top of Alex's head. "Sometimes I wish I could be more like Cait and blurt out how I feel when I'm around you." Her fingers twirled Alex's hair while she thought. "Just… you know... crazy ol' Piper tellin' ya like it is." She took another deep breath trying to quiet her emotions and her voice. "Instead of insecure and awkward Piper… too afraid to tell the person she's absolutely, head-over-heels in love with how she feels… for years, like a big dope."

Alex almost laughed. She fought against it, shifting in Piper's arms, trying to cover the noise she made with a light cough.

"No, no, no, go back to sleep," Piper whispered, stroking her scalp again. Piper was quiet as the minutes passed, and Alex didn't move again.

"I thought if I told you… you'd leave me or worse, hate me. I couldn't live with that." Piper's voice trembled with her emotions. "You're the only person I've ever met who's never mocked me. You've never been afraid of me. And I'm so goddamned selfish that I can't lose you because I don't want to be alone again." She hugged Alex tightly. For a moment, Piper was struck by how strong Alex felt even completely relaxed. She realized how hard she was holding her and loosened her grip. "And I swear to God, Blue if you die on me, I'll follow you straight to Hell just to drag you back and kick your ass. I know for sure; that Nat and Cait will help me. So, no dying because I'm going first."

"You are not going first and for the record, I think Piper Jansen has a nice ring to it."

Piper squeaked in surprise. She moved back so fast she almost fell off the bed, "Are you kidding me? You're awake?!"

Alex chuckled, "Well who could sleep with all that cute name-calling you were doing? You're also really loud when you talk, Piper."

Piper smacked her, "I can't believe you're awake and didn't stop me!" She smacked Alex playfully with both hands, and Alex laughed rolling away.

Alex held up a pillow to deflect more blows, "Why would I stop you from finally being honest with me?"

"Because!" Piper swatted her again, "I can't think of a better reason other than 'because'."

"Because… you want me to save you from yourself?" Alex offered sweetly avoiding a smack.

Piper dropped her hand, "That's actually pretty good." She hit her lightly one last time for good measure.

"I'm good, that's why." Alex peeked around the pillow warily, "Supergirl, remember?"

Piper popped her eyebrow up at her and pulled the blanket up under her arms, "You're just Semi-ok girl right now."

Alex hit her with the pillow. Piper giggled, snatching the pillow from Alex and tucking it behind her as she sat up. Alex scooted close to her, laying her head on Piper's lap so that they could talk. "So, can crazy ol' Piper just tell me what she's thinking from now on? I like the filter-free version of Piper Wright, and I'd like to keep this model. I won't be accepting a refund or exchange."

Piper sighed, "Yeah if you do the same for me."

"Deal," Alex smiled at her. "You should probably know that I'm pretty head-over-heels in love with you too. Oh, and I really like the fact you're loud, pushy, and awkward at the same time. It's adorable even when I'm trying to sleep, and you wake me up."

The blush that consumed Piper's entire body physically hurt. "Th-That's good to know. Heh. Um, yeah."

Alex's smile grew.

"Gosh it's hot in here, isn't it?" Piper bit her lip trying to control how embarrassed she felt.

"No, not really."

Piper rolled her eyes, "You're not making this better, Blue."

"I can't help it. I really love how red you get. You glow and it's something else."

"Oh my god…" Piper rubbed her head.

"Since you want me to be completely honest, I also really, really love how wet you get when you're turned on and how unbelievably loud you are when we have sex."

Piper pulled a pillow over her face with a groan.

"It fucking turns me on like nothing else," Alex smiled when Piper tightened her grip on the pillow. Piper didn't move for a second, then she lifted the pillow to look at Alex, sure she'd combust into dust any second. Her whole body was radiating heat.

"Is it hard to believe that you're sexy or that you drive me wild?" Alex smirked evilly at her.

"N-no, it's just… gosh I'm warm…"

"I'd say hot," Alex waggled her eyebrows at her, the greenish light making her look evil.

"Blue! Damnit all to Hell!" Piper fanned herself. "You're embarrassing me now."

Alex laughed, "Did you or did you not just tell me to be filter-free around you?"

It was clear Alex was enjoying Piper's slow, agonizing death. "I did, and I'm regretting it already."

Alex's toothy grin consumed her face as she watched Piper. "I'm rather enjoying it. Although…"

Piper looked up from where she was picking at the blanket. "Although what?"

"I don't understand why you were asking about name changes?"

Piper was certain she was going to die of embarrassment, "I… oh, well um… why did you change your name?"

Alex took her hand and held it, "It was traditional for women when they got married to take their husband's name. I wasn't planning on it, but my aunts said it would mean a lot to Nate's parents. So, I changed my name when we got married."

"Your aunts? What about your parents? What did they think?" Piper held Alex's hand between both of hers.

Alex bit her upper lip and was quiet for a second, "My mom died from cancer when I was twenty-one. My dad died in a car accident with Maddie when I was seventeen. Nate and I got married when we were both twenty-two after his first tour in Alaska. They weren't around to ask, that's why I asked my aunts."

"Blue," Piper felt horrible, "I didn't realize… I'm sorry I dragged up bad memories."

"They aren't all bad." Alex kissed her hand, "You're my partner and you should know more about me."

The guilt welled up inside of Piper. "About that…"

"What? My past?" Alex grinned at her, her thumb tracing Piper's fingers. "You can ask me anything you'd like. I'll work through my own difficulties talking about it."

Piper exhaled the breath she was inadvertently holding in her nervousness, "Ok, no. That wasn't what I meant." Piper saw the confusion flitter across Alex's face. "But I do want to know more about your past. I want to know as much about you as I can."

"What did you mean then?"

Piper felt the suddenness of the tidal rush of butterflies in her stomach from her apprehension. "Um, I meant about us being partners…" Alex was quiet, and Piper wondered if she was waiting for her to continue. The way Alex tilted her head put her face into the shadows, and it was hard to see Alex's face to gauge what she was thinking. She started thinking about what the right way would be to talk about it.

"What about it? I don't understand."

"Well… I…" Piper felt Alex squeeze her hand reassuringly.

Alex sat up and hooked Piper's hair behind her ear. "Tell me, Piper," The way the words sounded in French, carried on Alex's husky voice, made Piper shiver.

Piper chanced looking up and saw the encouraging smile Alex gave her. "Words have different meanings now than they did back in your day," Piper switched languages hoping speaking French would somehow help with how nervous she sounded. "I don't think 'partners' holds the same weight for you that it does for people today."

Alex traced Piper's jaw with the backs of her fingers, "What's important to me is what you think. Tell me what it means to you."

Piper took her left hand and traced her fingers, but stopped at her ring finger. "The word 'partners' is important to me and others, which is why people use it. It's more common than spouse or anything else." Alex looked down at her hand as Piper held it. Piper's fingers traced on top of Alex's ring finger and the back of her hand.

When Alex didn't say anything, Piper continued. "We lost your traditions generations ago. I read about some of them in books and..." Alex looked back up at Piper, but Piper couldn't read her expression. She knew if Alex said anything, she'd lose her nerve altogether, so she switched back to English. "Folks now are just trying to make it day to day. Finding someone and having a happily ever after with, that just doesn't exist… it's the stuff of fairytales. But…" She took a deep breath because she felt like she was about to vomit up a herd of butterflies. "When you finally find someone, what they are to you is important. Sharing everything with them becomes an everyday thing. It takes a lot to survive out there and trusting that person we're partnered with becomes intrinsic to who we are. We protect the people we love because everything depends on it."

Piper's fingertip traced the place where Alex's wedding band once resided. "The word everyone uses is 'partners', but you're so much more than that." The butterflies were rising as a raging storm.

"How much more?" Alex whispered through the darkness.

Piper swallowed the thick saliva in her mouth and her emotions with it. "You're everything to me. My world… my life and I…" Alex moved and the soft green light from the upper loft office illuminated half her face. In the light, Piper saw Alex was hanging on her every word.

Piper had seen the same expectant look on Alex's face in the past. The first time was in the old shack she had dragged Alex off to right before Alex had teleported to the Institute. The second time was when Alex returned to Diamond City with Cait after being gone for seven months. The third time was a few days ago when she stood on her doorstep for the first time in three months after the yao guai attack at the Starlight.

All three times Piper had the chance to tell her how she felt, and all three times Piper had let her down. This time was going to be different. "I read… Most folks nowadays can't and it's a real shame. But I did… do, I mean. When I had to stop going to school to take care of Nat, reading became the only way I could push myself to learn. I read everything I could get my hands on, from medical journals to fiction to comic books. It helped shape who I am and how I think. In a way, it even shaped what I wanted from a partner. Not that I ever thought I get someone…" Piper took a deep breath hoping to quell the anxious storm, "I told you; I didn't think people like you existed until you walked up next to me at the front gate."

"Why?"

Piper giggled nervously, "Are you kidding me? People like you only exist in fairytales…" She could feel the sweat on her brow from her anxiety. "Blue, you're a real, honest to goodness, Prince Charming."

The smile that bloomed on Alex's face almost derailed her. She didn't see the tears in Alex's eyes.

"The way you look at me," Piper's voice faltered. "You make it impossible for me to think." Alex opened her mouth, but Piper cut her off. "If you say anything I'll never be able to finish, and I need you to hear this." Alex closed her mouth with a nod.

"You're my partner and you've been that this whole time. Even if we were both too dense to admit it to each other." Alex laughed, wiping her eyes. Piper took a deep breath and threaded their fingers together, "Blue, I need to be real honest with you about this."

Alex lifted their hands to her lips and kissed Piper's knuckles, "No filter, Piper."

"When you asked me earlier to tell you what I call us, I wasn't completely honest with you, and I should have been."

"What do you mean? I don't…"

"Blue, please, let me finish while I still have the nerve." Piper pulled gently on her hand, and Alex moved to sit next to her. Piper draped the blanket around them, wrapping her arms around Alex. "Partner is the right word and the wrong word at the same time."

Alex leaned against Piper, but she stayed quiet waiting for Piper to continue.

Piper's throat felt dry, "It's watered down and when I think of you, and what you mean to me. It's not the word I want to say. We're more than that." Piper bit her lip, "It's not what call you in my head and not telling you has been eating away at me. I'm just not sure if you're going to like it."

"I want to know. No, fuck that, I need to know, Piper."

"I'm getting there, Blue, I promise." Whether she meant to or not, Piper was tracing Alex's ring finger again. "It sounds old-fashioned, and I know… um, I know you're old-fashioned with the way you think about things. But it honestly holds all the meaning that's important to me and represents what you are in my life. I told you, you're my world and my forever person. In my head, Blue, you're my…"

"Wife." Alex finished quietly.

Piper swallowed the cloud of butterflies, looking away. Their wings tickled her throat and stomach in the whirlwind of anxiety that had her skin burning hot and glowing brightly in the darkness. She hadn't expected Alex to finish her sentence for her. She felt Alex's fingers under her chin. The steel gray eyes that stared into her soul reflected the green light of the room. Before Piper could say anything, Alex gently kissed her. Soft. Slow. Soulfully deep kiss.

She traced her thumb over Piper's lips when she sat back. "I guess I should ask," Alex's bright smile fanned the flames in Piper's heart, "What kind of ring do you want, Piper Jansen?"

Piper laughed and hugged Alex, genuinely feeling relieved that she didn't get rejected. "I'm glad you can make jokes, Blue. Because I've spent this entire time trying not to puke on Alexandra Wright."

Alex covered her mouth, laughing, "That would not have been very sexy, Mrs. Jansen."

"I came pretty close for a minute there, General Wright," Piper fell over on Alex, laughing. A giggle fit consuming them both. "Why is this so damn funny?" Piper barely got the words out before she started hiccupping. Alex laughed harder, unable to answer her. Every time the two looked at each other they were dying laughing and Piper kept hiccupping.

When they finally calmed down, they were lying next to each other. Piper rolled over onto her right side, "I haven't laughed like that since we were at the Starlight." Her smile fell the moment she said Starlight.

Alex knit her eyebrows together in concern, "What's wrong?" When Piper didn't answer, Alex ran her hand through Piper's hair, "Piper?"

Piper shook her head; this was something she couldn't talk about. She would throw up.

"Is it what happened at the Starlight?"

Piper nodded, unable to stop the tears welling in her eyes.

Alex pulled her into her arms, "You listen to me. I knew what I was doing. I knew what would happen. It wasn't your fault. I made a choice."

"I couldn't help you. I couldn't even get the fucking door open. I wake up hearing you scream, smelling your blood, and hearing that yao guai and what it was doing to you. It haunts my dreams and my days." Piper's voice trailed off, her distress causing her voice to tremble.

Alex hugged her tightly, blanket and all, "You and Nat are my reason to live. You are my family and I love both of you. And I promise you, Piper, I will do everything I can to come home to you." Alex brushed Piper's hair and hooked it over her ear. "It's going to take time for those nightmares to go away. There's no magic wand for it but every time you have that nightmare, you reach out for me. I'll be right at your side."

"Even you can't make a promise like that, Blue." Piper closed her eyes as Alex wiped her tears from them.

"Says the woman who's been poisoned, shot at, kidnapped, stabbed, arrested, and almost executed, twice." Alex kissed Piper's forehead. "Listen, Mrs. Jansen, how about this. I promise to be at your side for as long as I live. Will that work?"

Piper smiled, "Alright, General Wright. I'll accept that promise on one condition."

"Name it," Alex kissed her quickly.

"No more doing stupid shit like trying to feed yourself to bears," Piper smirked at her.

"So long as you promise not to cook. Because I can get Bug to verify that at least one of those poisonings was self-inflicted."

"Oh, fuck you," Piper said, laughing.

Alex sat up, chuckling, "Do you want some coffee? I don't think either of us is going back to sleep."

Piper sat up next to her, "Yeah, I do. I need to finish that article. We need to figure out what he's up to and how it's linked to the Gunners."

Alex moved to get out of bed, but Piper caught her. "Blue… wait."

She turned to Piper, "Hmm?"

"I wouldn't ask you to change your name for me," Piper ran her fingers through Alex's hair, then twirled a lock around her finger.

"Because?"

"You took Nate's name." Piper didn't say anything else. She didn't think she needed to.

Alex thought about it. The look she wore was distant, then she focused on Piper, "I loved Nate. But Nate is gone, and you're here. You need to know that I love you immensely. If you asked me to, I would. I would do anything for you."

Piper felt her face go red and she gave Alex's hair a light tug, pulling Alex close enough to give her lover a sweet peck on the lips. "Go make coffee, Prince Charming. I have work to do."