.

.

.

'Till Death
4.

.

.

.

They glow; her eyes. Tears suddenly trickle down her cheeks. She has to force, force, herself not to leap into Alex's arms then and there. It's all irrational, what she feels. Piper wipes a hand down the left side of her face, gasps shakily.

'You're alive.'

Alex frowns. Piper's comment is bizarre. Stupid.

'Yeah.'

(Yeah... yeah, somehow Alex is still alive without her.)

'I don't want him.'

Alex blinks. Frowns again. It takes a while for everything to process. She has had no time to endure shock. To realise that Piper is, indeed, stood in her doorway. She knows what Piper is implying, but doesn't want to believe it. Doesn't want to believe the possibility that Piper has come back to her.

Again.

In this life, in the next life, in Hell, in Heaven, she'll always come back to her.

Piper holds her breath. Waits for Alex to turn her away.

Waits for her nightmare.

But they are ageing. They are tired. Wounded. And need each other's love.

'I know.' Alex's voice is so quiet, shaken, Piper doesn't hear her at first.

They kiss.

Wild, hot, passionate and destructive.

The door slams shut behind her; Piper's back meets the hard wood, and she groans when Alex nips at her lower lip. They want. They demand. They are a wreckage, grown so insane with their love, they lose all sense of modesty. Piper's shirt is torn from her body, and her chest rises. She closes her eyes while Alex kisses her neck, her collarbone, her breasts, her tummy, and it's enough to drive any woman mad.

All a rehearsed dance. Broken with every step.

She tastes the same. Her lips so soft. Fingertips crushing into her flesh. They leave marks. They make it obvious to themselves and to the world she is hers.

The carpet is rough. Piper's hands run past Alex's hips, press against her stomach. They moan, whisper, want quietly. Her heart is about to burst and they haven't even begun yet. Piper is certain she can't take it; she braces herself.

An exclaim. Her fists tighten in Alex's hair. They touch. They meet. They collide together.

After some time, they pause. Briefly. Breaths heavy. Trembling and drunk with too many emotions battling at once.

Piper kisses the corner of her mouth. 'I love you.'

Then, finally, when she expects green, she sees green. Alex's cheeks are flushed; there is colour to her face. As if her entire body has come to life.

This moment is so, so fragile they don't dare move, afraid it will all shatter apart. And they can't survive another fall. Alex's breath tickles her lips, and Piper tries to smile, but she no longer has the ability to.

Even the most simplest actions are beyond her.

Alex brushes a strand of hair from Piper's face. Moves in closer. Piper assumes a kiss.

'I love you too.'

It's a vow. A promise. Written so deeply into their souls, nothing can tear them apart.

Piper finally manages a smile. One smile. Pulls Alex into her arms and they hold each other for hours on end, hold each other until they are certain, until they know. Until they are.

It takes time, but they happen.

Eventually.

end.

author's note: Just a short, tender story. Don't ask why. I just wrote it. Thank you very much for reading. All of your reviews have been amazing, and I'm incredibly flattered to have such an enthusiastic audience. If you want to contact me, then you'd best do so on my tumblr (url: writinginpaint). Over there, I may post the odd drabble and keep you all updated on my fics. Please tell me your thoughts; your feedback is very important. See you all next time!