I am so sorry for the wait. I really struggled to write this chapter, either because I didn't know how to end the story or because I didn't want it to end. Besides that, I've been kept so busy reading all the other amazing stories being posted so frequently that I almost forgot I was writing one.

I re-wrote this a few times, and I'm still not sure about it. But here it is. Thank you all for being such loyal readers, and thank you endlessly for all the follows and favourites. I hope that, if I do write another story, it would keep as many of you happy as this one has.

Hope you enjoy...

(Disclaimer: I do not own these characters)

EPILOGUE

(PART III: CHAPTER 7)

Alex's body was shivering. Heart racing, little beads of sweat dotting her skin. She was lost in a dream again, her body fighting against itself while her mind drifted towards her only sanity. She dreamt of Piper's arms holding her, her voice soft in her ear, whispering words of comfort.

"Alex, wake up. It's only a dream."

Alex didn't want to open her eyes. She didn't want the dream to end. She couldn't let go of Piper just yet.

"I can't, she'll be gone when I open my eyes. I need her…" Her voice was barely above a whisper. The fever running through her body was making every part of her ache. She clung to sleep as if it was her only salvation, her reality would be too harsh to bear.

The cool texture of a damp cloth on her brow woke Alex enough for her to finally open her eyes. Out of focus lines and shapes filled her vision, dark shadows and beams of light blending into one another. The figure next to her shifted, moving closer to her. She could barely focus her sight enough to just make out long strands of blonde hair framing soft blue eyes. Alex forced her eyes closed again.

"Still dreaming," she whispered into the pillow. Yet the light touch of fingertips on her cheek was undeniable. The lingering, warm kisses on her already feverish face burnt her skin with wonderful familiarity.

"Hey. I'm here. Open your eyes."

That voice. Not even her fever induced hallucinations could imitate that voice so perfectly.

Piper traced the ridges of Alex's cheekbones gently with the tips of her fingers. The fever felt like it was letting up, her body was shivering less and there was the slightest hint of colour adorning Alex's cheeks. Piper didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Alex's struggle between her dream and reality. She needed Alex to look at her, to see that she was truly there, not just a mirage or fantasy. She could see Alex struggle to open her eyes. Maybe the light was still too harsh for her, or maybe the fear still weighed too heavily on her tormented mind. But Piper needed to assure Alex of her presence.

Piper stretched her body out slowly on the bed, moving down and pressing the length of herself against Alex. Her face was mere inches away from Alex's as she slowly moved her hand down Alex's arm. Piper leaned in and gently kissed Alex on her lips, holding her with just enough pressure, kissing her with just enough urgency to remove any doubt that she was merely a figment of Alex's imagination. She felt Alex's body react, moving closer to her still, a hesitant hand resting on her hipbone.

"Pipes?"

"I'm here. I promised."

Alex's voice was still weak, but it was the first time in days she seemed coherent. As Piper moved back she thought she saw the end of a smile on Alex's lips before she fell back to sleep.

Two more days passed like this. It had been seven days since Piper met a very delirious Alex at the airport and brought her home. She had been nursing her with water and soups, feeding her whenever she could hold down food and tried to get enough electrolytes into her system. Piper wasn't exactly well versed in heroin withdrawal, but she figured she knew enough to help Alex through the worst of it. As she watched the woman sleep restfully for the first time in a week she reminded herself that Alex had done this before. She couldn't believe that she had done it alone.

As Piper returned from the kitchen with a fresh supply of water she was greeted by the sight of Alex pushing herself up in the bed. Piper had never been so relieved to see such a simple act. She rushed to the side of the bed, putting down the glass and reaching to help Alex steady herself against the pillows. Even after a week of mostly sleeping Alex seemed exhausted. Piper could only imagine what her body had been through. She immediately reached a hand up and placed it gently against Alex's now cool face.

"Hey." After all they've been through, it was all she could come up with. She had no idea what to say to Alex. She didn't want to ask too many questions just yet, she knew how agitated Alex got when she felt like she was being interrogated under the best of circumstances.

Alex blinked slowly as a smile grew on her face.

"You're really here. I thought I was seeing things, which is not completely unrealistic. I couldn't even remember getting back here. Did you…"

"Yeah, I picked you up and brought you home. I was so scared, Alex. I didn't know what to do, I didn't know whether you would wake up after you fell asleep the first day. I'm just so glad you're okay."

"Getting there. I'm sorry Pipes, I never meant for you to see me this way." Alex lowered her eyes, not being able to look at Piper. "I understand if this is too much for you. Not like I plan to ever touch heroin again, but I know seeing me go through withdrawal couldn't have been easy. I don't know how to thank you for taking care of me, but I'm better now. I can do this on my own…" Alex's voice began to tremor. "I understand if I'm too broken for you…"

Piper couldn't help the anger rising in her. As much as she understood where Alex was coming from, she couldn't believe that she really thought she would run away from this again.

"Excuse me? Hey, look at me." She lifted Alex's face to hers. "Do you honestly think that I would have spent the last week looking after you, feeding you and cleaning up your vomit, being by your side 24 fucking 7 only to leave when it was over? Are you fucking kidding me? Alex, what about the last few months makes you think that I'm not in this for the long run? It wasn't like the last week was the honeymoon phase. I told you I'm all in, and I meant it. Yes, I was fucking terrified, and yes, I couldn't exactly believe what was happening some of the time, but I never once thought of leaving. What the fuck Alex!?"

"Wow." Alex couldn't help but laugh. At herself for immediately jumping back to her insecurities and at Piper's infamous temper rearing its head two seconds after she woke up.

"I really know how to get you worked up, don't I?" Alex couldn't help the smirk on her face. All signs of tears had left her and she held Piper's gaze steadily.

"I really am sorry Pipes. I never wanted you to see me this way, so weak. I wanted to be this person who had everything together, who could offer you something worth wanting. I spent so long trying to become that and I feel that I came so close, and then Paris… Now I'm this pathetic mess again, feeling unsure and insecure, and you don't deserve that. I never wanted you to be sorry for choosing me."

"I didn't choose you, Alex." Piper's voice was soft. She still held Alex's gaze, unwavering, her expression unreadable.

"What do you mean? What do you mean you didn't choose me?" As much as Alex tried she couldn't keep the fear from her tone.

"I didn't choose you, because there was never a choice. Alex, even thinking that not being with you was ever an option is like saying I can choose not to breathe, choose for my heart not to beat. You are a part of me, undeniably. You were like a ghost limb to me for years, I would always still reach out for you, feel you. Even though I tried to change, to move on, you were still there, lingering in the back of my mind. Saying no to being with you would be like saying no to being whole again."

Piper's voice trailed off. She didn't want to get emotional in front of Alex so soon after all that she had been through. As Alex covered her hand with her own she knew, however, that this new shared vulnerability was what made things different between them this time. There were no walls, no masks, it was two people laying themselves bare, unprotected.

"Come here." Alex lightly pulled Piper towards her. Their lips touched lightly, conveying nothing more than love and adoration. Alex smiled into the kiss, Piper's words still sinking in.

"I love you, Piper Chapman." Their lips met again. "And I don't know how to thank you for helping me. But now I want to get clean, properly. And I would love it if you would join me."

Alex could feel the smile growing on Piper's face. Wordlessly Piper helped Alex up from the bed, pausing for a while so she could find her balance, before they walked hand in hand to the bathroom.

Piper opened the taps in the shower before helping Alex undress. Her hands moved slowly, disrobing the tall body in front of her with gentle movements, her fingers lightly brushing against soft skin. Her motions were fluid, her body drawing from muscle memory, as if she had undressed Alex hundreds of times over the last years. Her hands moved as if nothing had changed, but her eyes traced up and down Alex's body finding little differences, small scars, slightly different curves and lines, all with stories that she wanted to know.

As the last of Alex's clothing hit the floor, Piper stepped closer, letting her head rest on Alex's shoulder allowing herself to inhale her warm scent. She felt Alex's hands reach for the hem of her shirt, starting to pull it upwards as Piper lifted her arms. Alex mirrored Piper's slow movements, as if memorising every inch of newly exposed skin. She held her breath as she took in Piper's naked form, hoping to freeze the moment.

Wordlessly, Piper took Alex's hand and led her into the shower. With her back to Alex she pulled them both under the gentle stream of warm water, relishing the familiar feeling of comfort and renewal it always brought her. As Piper lifted her hands into her hair she felt Alex's hands move on her body, sliding them over her wet skin as she moved around Piper. Her hands barely grazed Piper's breasts as she brought them up to her shoulders to pull her closer. Instinctively Piper dropped her hands to hold Alex, smiles of absolute contentment on both their faces. It all felt so normal, so right. Piper thought familiar until Alex's lips finally met hers again. This was anything but familiar. It was like being kissed by Alex for the first time, completely different to anything she had experienced with this woman before.

Alex kissed her, not shyly, not demanding, but like she had a right to. Her tongue danced against Piper's lips, gaining entrance almost immediately. The moment Piper's tongue met hers they could both feel the sensation rippling through their bodies, eliciting a gasp from Piper and a slight moan from Alex. Piper deepened the kiss as Alex pulled her body closer still.

Alex's hands moved down Piper's body to her hips as she moved her thigh to rest between Piper's legs. Their movements were becoming slightly more urgent, as years of longing slowly started to surface. Piper couldn't stop herself rocking her hips against Alex's thigh, digging her nails into her shoulders as her centre made contact. They stayed like that for a while, allowing the water to wash away the fear and anguish of the past few weeks, cleansing themselves of their hurt and anger as they rediscovered each other.

Piper's movements became more pronounced, silently begging Alex for more contact. Alex lowered her leg slightly, allowing her hand to move between their bodies, finding Pipers core. The moment her fingers made contact with Piper's swollen lips Alex felt herself being pushed back against the shower wall, almost instantaneously feeling the pressure of Piper's hand on her own mound, searching out her wetness. They started to move together, heads leaning against one another. Alex felt her desire grow as she coated her fingers in Piper's juices, knowing that her body was betraying her need to Piper's touch.

Piper couldn't wait any longer. She entered Alex as she thrust her hips forward, taking Alex's fingers inside her. Alex swallowed the moan emanating from Piper as she captured her mouth, their tongues moving more fiercely, urgently against each other. Their movements synchronised, meeting each other with every thrust. As Alex's palm pressed against Piper's clit their kiss was broken, Piper throwing her head back at the pressure. Alex deepened her movements, pressing her fingers against the slick walls of Piper's cunt as she rode her fingers harder. Piper leaned forward again, bringing Alex face down towards her.

"I want you to cum with me." Her voice was heavy with need, enough to almost push Alex over the edge. They kept their faces close together as they continued to move, their quickening pace bringing both woman closer and closer to release. Piper could feel Alex's muscles tighten around her fingers as her own body neared the brink.

"Look at me." Alex pulled lightly at Piper's hair, raising her face to hers. The moment their eyes made contact they both became completely undone, their bodies crashed together as wave after wave of pleasure ripped through them. Piper clung to Alex, barely keeping them upright, knees threatening to buckle at any moment.

As they regained control of their bodies Alex took Piper's head in her hands, simply staring at the beauty in front of her. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise as Piper started laughing.

"Something funny? Because I don't recall having any humorous intent in what just happened."

"I'm happy Alex. I love you, and I've wanted you for so long, I'm just feeling so much of it I can't help it. Everything I feel is amplified when I'm with you."

Piper reached for the soap as Alex continued to look at her.

"I recall something about you wanting to get clean?" she said as she started lathering the soap in her hands before she ran them over Alex's body. Alex closed her eyes at the contact, her hyper sensitive skin burning at every touch.

"You know, we've never been able to do that before."

"Do what?" Piper continued her journey over Alex's body.

"Cum together like that. There was always one of us fighting for control, wanting to be the dominant one. It was like one of us always had to prove something, that we were sorry, or forgiven."

Piper was surprised by Alex's words. She had avoided an emotional conversation after their making love because she knew that it always made Alex uncomfortable. She had expected Alex to make a joke about it, make light of the situation even though she knew there was so much to be said.

"Maybe it's because we're finally being honest with each other. Please Alex, just promise me we'll always remain that, honest?"

Alex turned around to face Piper again.

"I promise. Always."

That night as they lay in bed Piper allowed her mind to wander, thinking back to when she had met Alex, the start of their relationship, the tumultuous ups and downs, their heart shattering end. Her thoughts moved through their years apart, her regrets, her attempts at a life without Alex. The more she thought about it, the more she was sure that every turning point, no matter how obscure, how fickle it seemed at the time, had led her back here. This was where she belonged. Inevitably.

"What are you thinking about?" Alex's voice broke through her contemplations.

"I was just thinking about how everything played out, the fucked up route we had to go through to where we are now. I both wish everything could have been easier and I know that everything was supposed to happen the way it did. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, in your roundabout way of thinking" Alex chuckled. "You remember when we were in Japan and you showed me that beautiful bowl with the gold patterns?"

Piper nodded.

"I looked for one when I was in Japan again, years later. I asked around and they told me that it was actually a Japanese tradition. It's called Kintsugi. They believe that when something breaks and is repaired, it should become part of the object's history, rather than something to hide. By using the gold it often makes the object much more beautiful. I think that's what we are. We were so broken Pipes, together and apart, but somehow we found a way to put it back together. You and I are both more whole now as individuals than we have ever been, and that could only make whatever we build more beautiful than we could ever have imagined."

Piper stared in awe at the woman in front of her. She again let her eyes wander, taking in new marks and lines on Alex's skin. She thought of the things that Alex had been through in only the last few months, finding it hard to believe that such hardship could have a positive effect, but Alex was right, it was as if every experience had made her stronger and more beautiful.

Piper had always believed in happy endings. Now, lying here with Alex, she didn't believe in endings at all.

(THE END)

Thank you for reading. As ever, your reviews would mean so much. Just because it's finished doesn't mean I don't want to know what you think! It may serve as inspiration to write another one...