A/N:

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters.

Again, apologies for the delay. I tried updating as soon as I could but life has its way of kicking my ass so, I'm really sorry.

This is such a bittersweet moment because this is the final chapter of this story. It had been a great journey writing this but the best part is still getting to interact with you all. Thanks for all the favourites and follows and reviews. All of those mean so much to me! Thank you. *happy tears*

This chapter is dedicated to you. Yes, you. And yes, I still like you very much. Haha. *wink wink*

More A/N at the bottom. Enjoy!

25

"I will always be yours forever and more, through the push and the pull...

I still drown in your love and drink 'til I'm drunk,

And all that I've done, is it ever enough?"

-o-o-o-

Alex and Piper were finally on their way to Connecticut, a place Piper swore she'd never go to again. During the drive, Alex noticed how awfully quiet Piper was, only speaking when being asked a question and not saying anything more than the answer expected from her.

"Babe? You okay?" asked Alex even though she already knew the answer. Piper was looking out the window, and Alex had to grasp her hand to get her attention.

Piper then looked at her and tried to force a smile, but instead of answering verbally, she just nodded before looking back out again.

Alex then decided to just leave Piper to her thoughts for a while, knowing how hard this must be for her. She wanted to do something, anything so she could make her feel even just at least better but for now, respecting Piper's need for silence would have to do.

It had been about fifteen minutes later when Piper suddenly spoke, her tone a little panicked and her actions frantic. "Al, can you please pull over?"

"What?" asked Alex, surprised by Piper's request.

"Please. Just pull over. Just... please."

"Okay, okay," Alex complied, pulling over, worried by Piper's sudden outburst. "Pipes, what's going on?"

But Piper refused to answer, and instead went out of the car quickly, slamming the door shut before leaning against it. She was breathing heavily, both her hands clasping at her shirt, her eyes shut tightly.

"Pipes?" Alex slowly approached her, not wanting to startle her girlfriend. "Babe..." she stood in front of her as she gently held her shoulders before running down her hands until their fingers were entwined together.

Piper still had her eyes shut and this time, trace of tears could be seen forming on them. Her breathing was still heavy and Alex could feel how hard she was trying to control her emotions.

"Pipes, please look at me." Alex had to unclasp one of her hands from Piper's so she could cup her face and gently guide it to face her. Slowly, Piper opened her eyes and they were filled with so much pain that Alex's heart ached as if she was going through the same thing. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I can't go, Al." Piper said softly as she shook her head, her voice quivering a little. "I can't do it."

Finally, Piper let out the tears she's been trying to hold ever since she and Alex got into the car. She really wanted this to be over. She wanted to just let everything go so she could start over with Alex again without any of those burdens she's acquired from the past. But just thinking about having to face her father and having to deal with her dead mom was proving to be too much for her to handle just yet.

At the sight, Alex immediately pulled Piper into a hug, wrapping her arms around her protectively but gently. Piper's pain was hers, too, and if only she could take all of it just so Piper could never be hurt ever again, she'd do it in a heartbeat.

"Pipes, you can," she whispered into her ear as she rubbed her girlfriend's back soothingly. "You're stronger than you think... you've gone through so much and you won over all of it. This is the final battle, and you're going to win over it just like all other fights you've had your entire life."

"But I don't know what to do. And I'm scared of what's gonna happen and what I'm going to feel once I'm there."

Alex then pulled away so she could look Piper in the eye and wiped the tears that had now settled on her cheeks. "Do you wanna hear something?" Piper's eyes filled with questions but she nodded and so Alex breathed deeply, preparing herself to tell Piper something she wasn't planning to tell her just yet. "While I was g-gone... I went to London. Do you remember Ashley?"

At the mention of the name, Alex noticed the change in Piper's expression. Of course, she remembered Ashley. But then again, Piper remained quiet, giving Alex only a slight nod at her question, apprehension apparent on her face.

"I've dodged anything that could remind me of her ever since that night happened. You know it... you know how scared I was to face whatever issues I had with her because I was so scared that if I did, the guilt of thinking her death was my fault would win over me."

Alex tried recalling everything she went through because of that night, ever since that night. She almost lost everything because of it. And for a second, she thought the pain she felt all those times would come back again. Much to her surprise, it didn't.

"It was hard, Pipes. I spent every day of my life ever since carrying that burden, and it weighed me down so much that I couldn't allow myself to be truly happy. Even if I was already with you back then, I always thought that I shouldn't be happy because I didn't deserve it after what I thought I'd done. I let it control me and in the end, it ended up ruining me, it ruined us."

And then it all came down to that. The drugs, for thinking it would help her forget so she could at least be happy with Piper. But instead of helping, it just started to go downhill from there. Up until now, the thought of almost losing Piper for good still sent shivers down her spine. Just the thought of having to live in a world without the woman she loved the most already scared her enough.

So she had to do something about it. And thankfully, she did.

"So when I decided to put my shit together, it was one of the things I decided to do... to finally face her. I didn't know what I was gonna do. I didn't even know if it was gonna help. But I stopped thinking and booked a plane ticket to London and went to finally face one of my biggest fears."

When Ashley died, Alex didn't only have to go through the pain of her death. She also went through the difficulty of having to arrange everything, from hiding from the authorities, and from everyone, whatever happened, to her funeral, which didn't really happen except for having her cremated, to having to bring her back home, to telling her family that they've lost her forever.

And Alex had to go through all of that while dealing with the thought that it was all her fault. So after that, all she wanted was just to forget everything, to shut down all her emotions just so she could still manage to exist even without having to really live anymore.

And she thought that it was enough for her to go on. But she couldn't be more wrong until she's finally realized it and had to do what she should have done since day one.

"I talked to her... apologized... all the while hoping she was there and listening to me, wishing she could at least tell me that I was forgiven. But I didn't need to hear her forgiveness. Turned out I just had to forgive myself to be able to finally let go."

It was all Alex needed. She'd been looking for the wrong ways on how to deal with it and she only had to forgive herself for it and to allow herself to cry for Ashley one last time. It was all she needed to finally be free from all of it.

"And I did, Pipes. I forgave myself for it and after that I felt lighter than I've ever had ever since I lost her. It wasn't easy. But there are people in my life who deserve so much more from me other than to be the person who kept letting the past control her present and future. And now I'm here... and I'm with you... and there's nothing holding me back anymore."

Alex knew Piper understood why she was telling this to her right now and she hoped that it could at least help her in some way. All things considered, Piper and she mirrored each other. They met at the worst times of their lives and fell in love while living with the ghosts of the past, almost destroying themselves in the process.

It seemed like everything happened at the wrong time so they had to heal apart, just so they could become the people they were now and have the kind of love they both deserved. But there was still that one last thing that they had to go through so they could finally say that the past no longer had the power to control them.

Alex had gone through that. It was Piper's turn, and she was going to make sure she was there for her, and with her, every step of the way.

"Babe, I know this is not easy for you. But I'm here, and I'm gonna do everything that I can to help, okay? I'm not leaving you, unless you tell me to. I'm gonna be with you all the way. Pipes, you deserve so much more. You can do this, I know it."

Slowly, the light in Piper's eyes came back and Alex could no longer see fear in them. She could only see determination and so when Piper smiled, Alex found herself smiling as well, knowing Piper was ready to do this. "So? Are you ready to do this?"

Piper exhaled and wiped the remaining traces of tears on her eyes. "Yeah." She felt all better, just listening to everything Alex said and she didn't realize how glad she was that Alex was with her until now. "Thank you," Piper smiled and kissed Alex softly, her heart bursting with so much love for this woman holding her like she was the most precious creation in this world. "And I'm really proud of you," she then added, causing a small chuckle to escape Alex's mouth as their lips touched.

So when she and Alex pulled apart, the blonde knew that she wasn't just ready to face her parents... she was also ready to let go.

-o-o-o-

Alex and Piper were already at the hotel they decided to stay in while they were in Piper's hometown. The blonde decided to go see her Dad first and even though she really still did not know what she was going to tell him, she decided to go now since the sooner she did it, the sooner this would all be over, too.

"Are you gonna come with me?" asked Piper, hoping Alex would say yes but not wanting to force her to do something she did not want to do.

"Do you want me to go with you? " Alex, of course, wanted to go with Piper. She meant it when she said she'd never leave Piper through all of this, but if her girlfriend preferred doing this alone, she'd also respect that.

"Yes."

"Then I will," Alex smiled before kissing Piper on her forehead. "So, how do we do this? Should I pretend to be just your sexy acquaintance or..."

Piper chuckled as Alex gave her that signature eyebrow raise, so seductive and yet so adorable at the same time. "Sexy, huh?"

" No? Just an acquaintance then?"

"How about..." Piper started closing the gap between her and Alex until she rested both her arms on her girlfriend's shoulders, her hands clasped together at her nape, "...I just introduce you as my hot, sexy, badass girlfriend, will that work for you?" Her face was merely inches from Alex's and she could notice the change in Alex's breathing as her eyes started to darken.

"Hmm, I think I like that," Alex said before Piper finally pressed their lips together.

Piper started to deepen the kiss as her hands went lower to grasp Alex's ass. Alex moaned softly at this and even though she knew Piper was only doing this to stall, she welcomed the softness of her lips against hers and her body pressed deliciously against her own.

"And I also like where this is going but baby, we have somewhere to go to," Alex then said when she managed to untangle herself from her girlfriend.

"Ugh, but I don't wanna go," Piper kissed Alex again and for the nth time, Alex let her, chuckling at how Piper pouted when she pulled away.

"Babe, we have all the time in the world to do this. But right now, we're gonna have to do your dad first."

Piper immediately stepped a few steps away from Alex as she looked at her with disgust. "Alex, what the fuck, that's so gross!"

Alex then chuckled loudly realizing what she just said, and probably more at Piper's reaction. "I mean do that thing with your dad. Fuck, I'm sorry, my mind doesn't work properly when you do this to me. We're not doing your Dad, Pipes. You can relax."

"Ugh, stop. You disgust me."

"You love me anyway."

"Nope," Piper said shaking her head. "Not right now," she then added before she left the hotel room, leaving Alex still laughing at herself and more at her.

And as Piper listened to the beautiful sound that was Alex's laughter, she remembered that this really wasn't supposed to be that hard.

She had Alex. And Alex made things easy.

-o-o-o-

"So, you're ready to do this?"

Alex and Piper were already parked in front of Piper's old home and the latter felt like her insides were doing somersaults. "No," she then said as she swallowed hard, the memories of her childhood rushing back as she looked at the house she never thought she'd ever see again.

Piper was quiet again. But this time, it wasn't because she wanted to back out. She was only trying to control her emotions, the anger that was slowly building up and the pain that never really went away in the first place. If she was going to do this, she wanted to be as calm as she could be and she knew that if she went in now, that wasn't going to happen.

"Can we stay here for a while? I just... I just need a few minutes."

"Okay, whenever you're ready," Alex then held Piper's hand, making soothing circles on her knuckle. Alex could sense Piper's unease and so she tried to make conversation just so she could divert her attention even just for a short while. "So this is where you grew up?"

Piper finally looked at her and gave her a small smile. "Yeah." Alex's smile grew wider at this. "What?"

"Nothing. I just imagined you running around like a little kid and how adorable you probably were. Did you run around with just your underwear on?"

"What?" Piper asked chuckling as she adamantly shook her head. "I so did not. I was a very proper kid if you must know."

"Proper kid, sure," Alex answered, her tone mocking.

"Hey, it's true," protested Piper, her apprehension about having to face her father suddenly dissipating. She was aware that Alex was doing this to distract her from going anywhere near her dangerous thoughts and she was thankful that her girlfriend knew when to do when Piper didn't.

"Okay. Then it's a good thing you're no longer so proper these days," the raven-haired then added, raising her eyebrows suggestively. This earned her a playful hit on her arm from Piper and she could see how Piper had started to relax a lot more than the first few minutes they got here.

For a short while, Piper was quiet but then she inhaled deeply and when she looked back at Alex, the tension from her body had left her and she could only feel determination pulsing through her. "Okay, I think your distracting tactics have worked. I'm gonna go in now."

Alex smiled widely and watched as Piper went out of her car with determination on her face and newly-found bravery. She followed shortly after as the blonde went up to the front porch of the house, raised her hand to knock at the door, and looked back at Alex with a somehow blank expression on her face.

If Alex didn't know Piper's Dad lived here, she probably would have thought that this place was abandoned. It looked as if it hasn't been cleaned in months, the inside of the house barely seen through the windows from the thick dust that had settled on them. The plants outside have withered and the fallen leaves lay scattered all over the place.

It was about a minute later when they heard footsteps coming closer from the inside and Alex noticed how Piper inhaled sharply, and out of instinct she grabbed Piper's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Piper looked back at her with a small smile on her face, about to say something.

But the words had not left her mouth because soon enough the door was widely open, a tall man, his hair grey and his eyes lifeless, undoubtedly Piper's father, standing right in front of them. The look on his face could only be described as pure shock mixed with something else Alex could not decipher.

"P-Piper?" the man stammered, his composure wavering. "I-it is you, right?" He looked at Piper as if making sure that his eyes weren't doing tricks on him. "It's you," he then said, his voice more determined this time.

Piper swallowed hard and felt her eyes sting at the sight of her father whom she hasn't seen in so long he couldn't even almost recognize her anymore. "It's me."

"Oh, Piper, honey!" her father then exclaimed before pulling her into a bone-crushing hug. It took Piper by surprise that she couldn't move. Her hands stayed still at her side as she tried to think of the appropriate thing to do. But she couldn't come up with anything and all she could think about was how long the hug was taking and how she just wanted to be out of his grasp right that second.

When Piper managed to move, she pulled away from him almost frantically, taking a few steps away from him gaining her an enough space between them. She could see the surprised look on her father's face at her reaction, which quickly turned into an understanding and what seemed like guilt.

Well, that's what Piper would have liked to think so.

"I can't believe you came back. I mean... I'm happy, very happy, but I just—I thought you weren't coming back."

Piper didn't say anything to this but instead instinctively looked at Alex who was still standing at her side. This brought her father to look at Alex as well, a small smile on his face.

"Y-you're Piper's friend?" he asked, his tone more polite than Alex was expecting.

Ever since Piper told her the entire story of her life, Alex had always thought of her parents as some evil monsters who weren't capable of being nice. But this person in front of her right now was far from what she imagined and she wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or not.

She then smiled and was about to say Yes, not because she didn't want to tell him the truth but because she really thought this wasn't an appropriate time to introduce herself as his long-lost daughter's girlfriend, when Piper beat her to it.

"She isn't my friend. She's Alex, and she's my girlfriend."

Piper's tone was firm and even, and Alex immediately searched for any reaction from Bill's face, again expecting anything negative, but except for the slight surprise that he couldn't really mask with his forced smile, Alex did not see any judgment or some sort.

"Oh," Piper's father responded before nodding his head in understanding. "Hi, Alex. It's nice to meet you, I'm Bill," he extended his hand towards her and Alex took it and shook it formally before looking back at Piper who seemed to be just as surprised with her father's reaction as well.

"Nice to meet you, too."

Even though Alex could see that he was trying hard to be nice, if he was even just trying or it was all really natural, she still remained just civil knowing that this person was still one of those who had hurt Piper immensely.

Bill then realized that they were still just standing on his doorway and so when he did, he opened his door wider and gestured for both of them to go in. "I'm so sorry, that was rude of me. Come in!" Alex could sense how Bill was trying to act normally but it was evident how clueless he was on how to act around the daughter he hadn't seen in years.

So she followed Piper who apprehensively walked in, taking in how everything inside looked. If the outside of the house made it seem as if it had been abandoned, the inside on the other hand gave the impression that it had been wrecked by a hurricane. Things were scattered all over and there was not a single thing that seemed to be on its right place.

It made Alex wonder just how long Piper's father had stopped living.

"Have a seat, please!" he then gestured to one of the couches that seemed as if it was gonna break once someone sat on it. He frantically walked around the room, trying to tidy things as he did and Alex felt a little uncomfortable just watching him.

Again, Piper and Alex looked at each other without Bill noticing, Alex silently asking Piper whether she was fine which caused the blonde to nod a little, giving Alex a small smile. It was through those kinds of looks that Alex felt just how strongly connected she and Piper were, having been able to understand what the other was saying without really saying anything at all.

"Do you want anything to eat? Or drink? I can prepare you some—"

"We're not here to make pleasantries," Piper said, cutting off whatever her father was trying to say. "I'm here because I want you to know how much you've ruined my life."

Piper's voice was so sharp it took not only Bill by surprise, but Alex, too. But knowing how Piper had bottled up her anger towards her parents for so long, somehow she understood. Suddenly, she wanted to rush towards Piper and ease her tension once again but then she realized that if Piper had to get past this, she needed to finally let out everything she was feeling.

"Pip—"

"No, Dad. I think it's time you finally listened to me. I spent years listening to you, following everything you told me to do. Not once had you ever been on the listening side. You and her. Do you know what it feels like to grow up with both parents who made you feel like you're nothing?"

Bill couldn't look at Piper. He was staring at the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the world, shifting his weight from either foot alternately. But Alex knew he was listening to every word Piper was saying with the way he flinched as if he'd been burned.

Piper could see this, too, and it spurred her on even more knowing this was hurting him. She was suddenly so angry that all she wanted to do was to hurt him as much as he had hurt her.

"Danny, Cal, and I did everything to make you happy and yet you treated us like crap. Were you guys really so miserable that you had to make ours just like that, too? You were the reason Danny left us. You're the reason I left Cal. You're the fucking reason I spent years of my life thinking no one would ever want to love me. Because why the hell would they when my own parents couldn't even do that?"

Piper wasn't crying. Her hands were balled to a fist and Alex could see how her voice would tremble just slightly, trying to conceal any emotion she was feeling at the moment. But Alex knew Piper and she knew she wasn't feeling nothing standing in front of the person who had hurt her so much.

She could see the anger beneath the blank expression on her face, could hear the pain in her voice. She could see how much Piper was hurting and she hated that she couldn't do anything except watch her try to not fall apart.

"I just wanna know why," the question came out as a whisper, like Piper was suddenly so tired of it all.

"I..." Bill started, his voice quivering as he ran her fingers through his hair. "I wasn't happy with the way your m-mother was controlling my life and how I couldn't do anything about it. I hated it that I couldn't do anything about it, that it made me feel like such a useless person. Which is why I just settled on tuning her out, focusing my attention on other things instead... other people... without realizing that I was already hurting the three of you in the process."

He was shaking his head, as if doing that would make it all better. "I'm sorry, Piper. I don't have any explanation other than the fact that I was a terrible father. And I'd understand if you don't forgive me. But I want you to know how sorry I am, and that I tried looking for you, for the three of you. But I guess it was a little late when I started doing it. I'm sorry. For everything. I'm really sorry."

Alex couldn't help but compare Piper's situation with her father to hers. And she wondered whether what was more difficult, not having experienced the love of your own father because he simply wasn't there, or not experiencing that kind of love even if he was there.

Which led her to think whether this genuine apology that Piper's father was giving her would make a difference, would give Piper the peace she deserved more than anyone else in the world.

Piper was still not crying. Instead, she was nodding her head slowly, a dry laugh escaping her lips. Everything was quiet for a while, and Alex could see that Piper was thinking. And then she let out a sigh, inhaling deeply before doing so.

"You're right. It'll probably be right that I never forgive you. But I'm exhausted, Dad. I'm so fucking tired carrying all these anger with me. I'm tired feeling sorry for myself. I'm tired of all of it," Piper said, sounding exactly like it, tired.

And really, she was done feeling that.

"And that's another reason why I'm here. At first I didn't know why I wanted to come see you. But now I understand. It's because I wanna give myself the chance to forgive you... so that I can finally move on. It's not gonna be easy, believe me. But I wanna try," she stopped, looking at her father as if she wanted to say something more, only to decide against it in the end.

Instead, she said with a finality in her tone, as if saying it would mean this was the last time she was gonna feel this way, "I'm tired."

And with that, Bill rushed forward towards Piper, hugging her once more but with so much more force this time, as if all apologies needed could be said through that hug. And unlike earlier, Piper brought her hands up to hug him back, even if it seemed like she was having such a hard time doing it, she tried.

Seeing this, Alex felt herself smiling, happy for the huge progress Piper just made. And while still hugging her father, Piper looked at her, smiling back, and Alex felt her heart melt at the sight. This was a start, and she hoped that things would only look up from here.

-o-o-o-

Piper was now standing in front of her mother's grave, Alex and her father just behind her. At first, Piper's mind was blank. She didn't know what to think or say or do so she just stood there, her emotions dancing at a very thin thread between sadness and relief... sadness for all the things that she wished she could've changed, and relief that finally she was able to do this one final step before she could finally move on.

And then she let her tears fall. Those tears she didn't want her father to see, those tears she hoped she'd never have to shed again, she allowed them to fall. And somehow, that was the push she needed so she could finally say what she needed to say.

"Hey," her voice trembled just a little bit, wishing Alex could be beside her right now but knowing she had to do this one on her own this time. "I'm back. When I left, I wished I'd never have to see you again. But that was only because I was decided on never coming back here. It was never because I wanted to be back and have you already gone."

Piper's tears were now falling effortlessly, and she made no move to stop them, only wiping her eyes so her sight wouldn't be blurred. "I don't know if it's pathetic or what, but despite all the anger I felt for you all those times, there was still a part of me that kept wishing that one day, I'd still feel the love I'd wanted from you for so long. I guess that's never happening now, huh?"

"I never understood everything that happened. I still don't. I don't understand why. But maybe there are really things that are never meant to be understood and just be accepted. And maybe this is it for me."

"It wasn't easy coming here, having to face you even if it meant me just talking to a stone. It's never easy, because you're still hurting me, just like you've always had. But the difference is... now I'm ready to move past it. I'm ready to let all of this go."

"So, I'm sorry... for hating you most of my life. But I'm done, and I came here to tell you that. And also to tell you that I forgive you... for all of it. And this time, I'm doing this for myself. Because right now, I'm really, really, really happy and that's all I want to feel from now on."

Piper then paused, surprised that the she could immediately feel the effects of what she just said. It felt like a huge weight was taken off her shoulders, and she felt so light she felt like she was floating.

"So... this is probably it for us. I don't know if I'd come back again but if I do, I promise to bring Danny and Cal with me. And just so you know, I still love you, Mom... despite everything. I love you, and I hope you finally rest in peace. Goodbye, Mom."

And as Piper turned around, immediately looking at Alex who was looking back at her with a smile and a look that showed just how proud she was of her, she felt that she wasn't only walking away from her mother's grave, but also from the past that controlled her for so long. It felt so good and liberating that finally, she could truly move on.

And with the sight of the present and future she only needed, which was Alex, Piper knew that she's never felt better than how she was feeling right this exact moment.

-o-o-o-

Alex and Piper were back at their hotel room, just lying side by side on the bed, both looking at the ceiling. They had stayed at Bill's for a few more hours after they went back there from the cemetery, trying to catch up with each other's lives, mostly just him asking questions about Piper's life, and Alex's, too. It wasn't a fully repaired relationship but it was on its way there and with the short span this process took, maybe it wouldn't take long to reach that destination.

"How are you feeling?" asked Alex who had now turned to her side to face Piper.

The blonde did the same and she gave Alex such a sweet, genuine smile that made Alex's chest flutter. "I'm feeling really great. I didn't think it would be that... easy. But just looking at him like that, speaking to my mom, and then looking back to everything that has happened since I don't know when, I just knew... that I don't want a life filled with anger anymore," Piper exhaled, feeling so light having removed the weight off her shoulders. She then scooted closer to Alex, wrapping around her girlfriend's waist as she looked her in the eye. "Thank you."

Alex, who was twirling a few strands of Piper's hair on her fingers at that time, then stopped and looked at Piper as if she was just messing with her. "For what? I just stood there."

"Yeah, and that was more than enough for me. If you weren't there I probably wouldn't have lasted ten seconds in front of him. I would have left as soon as I saw that house and I would have never gone to see Carol. So thank you, for not making me do all that alone."

Piper leaned in towards Alex as she pressed a chaste kiss on her lips, feeling Alex smile into the kiss. It was one of Piper's favourite things whenever she'd kiss Alex. It wasn't just the kiss itself but how Alex reacted to it.

"I'm really happy for you, you know that?"

Piper nodded, the lightness she was feeling radiating off of her body, made more evident by the smile on her face. "I know," she whispered, bringing her face to settle at the crook of Alex's neck, their arms wrapped around each other and legs tangled together.

"Why didn't you stay, though? At your old house. You could've spent the night with him, get to know more about his life."

"And what, sleep without you? Not gonna happen. I want to be wherever you are."

Alex chuckled, knowing Piper's happiness was the reason she was being extra mushy again. "That's just clingy, Pipes."

"Oh, fuck off," Pipe shoved Alex playfully, earning another sound of laughter emanating from Alex's lips.

"Plus, who said anything about you sleeping without me? I would have stayed with you there, slept in your old room. We could have fucked in your old bed!" Alex said, fake regret filling her face, all the while enjoying how Piper was looking at her at that exact moment. Her lips were curved into a smile, her eyes shining so bright they could make the stars outside look dull.

Piper looked beautiful and Alex had never been more in-love with her than right now.

"Oh God, no. I have so many terrible memories in that room," said Piper, her face scrunched into a grimace.

"All the more reason we should have done it, I mean, you know, to make new memories, more beautiful ones... those worth remembering."

"Yeah? I'm already doing that with you now, anyway."

Alex then pulled Piper even closer to her, Piper's body now almost draped all over her. She loved these kinds of moments with Piper, just doing practically nothing and yet that nothing meant so much more than if she was doing something without her.

She loved being with Piper and for a split second, she thought of the word forever, and if that was possible with them. Surprisingly, the answer came so easily because of course, a forever with Piper was possible.

Just the thought of that made Alex lift Piper's chin with two of her fingers, before kissing her passionately and filled with all the love she could give.

When they finally felt the need for air, they pulled apart, smiles etched on both their faces. There was no denying this had been a great day and Alex knew there were many more great days to come. And she couldn't wait for it. "I love you."

"I love you, too. I can't wait to go back home, where we can start a new life and make so much more memories together. Yeah?" she then asked in the end, wanting to know that this was what Alex wanted, too.

"That sounds like such a really great plan, Pipes."

And with that, they kissed again and then they let the night pass by as they stayed tangled together, until they've succumbed to their drowsiness that they always seemed to want to fight whenever they were together. So they slept with smiles on their faces, their excitement for the future ahead of them even reaching their dreams.

It had been such an exhausting day. It had been such an exhausting last few years, not only for them as a couple but for them as individuals. But now, they knew that as they'd wake up tomorrow, all the pain they've felt in the past, all the tears they've shed and all the days they've spent thinking life would never be better for them anymore, all of those would be replaced with new memories they were going to create together.

It hadn't been an easy life for Piper.

Life was never a walk in the park for Alex.

They would have chosen to forget every pain that the past had caused them. But they wouldn't... because those broken roads that the past had created for them were what led them to each other.

And funnily enough, all those pains were suddenly worth it.

-o-o-o-

A/N:

I'm not sure if I'm going to add an epilogue to this but I want to (because I want Red, Lorna and Nicky to be at the end, too), I'm just really not sure if time would permit me to write one. So, I'm still going to mark this as 'Complete' just in case I won't be able to.

Anyway, hopefully this ending is satisfying enough. Thank you again for all the love. You guys are amazing!

And for those following Always and Forever, I'm still going to continue that, so hopefully you'd be patient enough to wait for the next chapter. =)

SHOUTOUTS:

THIS CHAPTER IS ALSO DEDICATED TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE STUCK WITH ME UNTIL THE VERY END. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. *HEART EYES*

elliellie1, Thank you so much! Hope you like this one. =)

Guest (love it), Thank you! =)

RJVause, Yes, I think you all deserve it. Haha. Thank you for that wonderful review! And by the way, I just want to tell you how much I love your stories. I'm sorry that I haven't gotten to post any review on them yet but I'm gonna start working on that soon. Please keep'em coming! =)

izzielg, Haha, yes. And now, we've reached the end (probably) thank you so much for that review! =)

Guest (nice surprise), I didn't expect that I could update that soon, too. But then again, this one was a little late so apologies for that. Haha. And I'm glad that this has cheered you up a little. Yes, the recent events that had happened to so many people all over the world was heartbreaking. =( Thank you for that wonderful review. =)

Guest (seriously love this), I'm really happy to know that! And I'm even happier that you stuck with it until the very end. Thank you! And I'm really happy with you and your girlfriend, please say hi to her for me. Haha! =)

Budda1127, Thank you so much! And you totally made my day as well with your review! =)

Guest (who hasn't reviewed in a while), No need for apologies! I'm just glad to know you've reached until the very end of this story. And knowing you've read this a couple of times just made my day, oh my gosh thank you very much! =)) Have a great day as well!

DR75, You are very much welcome! And thank you as well. =)

Guest (loved this chapter), Thank you for letting me know all the parts that you loved! I'm also glad that I had made you laughed. You made me smile, just so you know. =)

WB79, Aw, thank you. That truly means a lot! =)

schillingarmy, Hey, don't worry about it. Just knowing you're still reading is good enough for me. Thank you so much! Have a nice day as well. =)

FFChik, Haha, I'm glad you loved that part. Thank you so much for another wonderful review! =)

oitnbaddict, Haha, I'm glad you've remembered to log in! And I totally agree, I hope we see that in canon, too. Thank you for the review, as always it made me smile. =)

alexis, Hi Alexis! Are you a new reviewer? Haha, just kidding. =) Anyway, you have no idea how happy you've made me knowing you've read a few chapters a couple of times. And now you do. Haha. I apologize again for the lack of Janis. I'm thinking about writing a new fic just about her, probably a crossover between Friends and OITNB. =)) Anyway, thank you for that wonderful review. I can't believe I'm being so formal with you but oh well. And I'm happy you love that song, too. The person who recommended it is that great, if you know what I mean. +))

Guest (looove it), Thank youuu! =)

Kojojo, I'm glad you find my version of Alex and Nicky's friendship funny. Thank you! =)

Vausemaniac, Hey there! Thank you for always leaving a review on every chapter, that is so sweet of you and I appreciate it very much! Your reviews always make my heart melt and I'm honestly gonna miss reading them. Knowing your inputs on some scenes is really awesome and if I could reply to each one of those, I totally would. Haha. Again, thank you so much! Have a wonderful day! =)

huggerguest, Haha, I'm really glad to know that so now I'm gonna have to dance with you! Thanks for that review. You are wonderful! =)

Guest (who's recently just started this fic), I'm glad to 'meet' a new reader! Hello! Haha. I'm glad you've liked it so far. =)

Guest (i'm not sure if you're the same one above lol), I'm really not sure if you're the same reviewer as the one above but if you are, thank you so much! If not, thanks as well and I'm sorry for the mistake. Haha. =)

Guest (again, I'm not sure if you're the same as the two reviews above this haha), Wow, that was such a mind-blowing review! You have no idea how many times I've read your review it was awesome and I feel so flattered. I'm so glad you think all of those things and I'm also happy that somehow you've seen the 'coming full circle' with those two, like how they're rewriting everything except this time they're making it better. You've worded it beautifully and thank you so much for that! And also about the replies, thank you for such great compliments. It's wonderful knowing I'm your favourite. I think I'm blushing a little. Haha. =)

sweetlikevanillais, Thank you so much! =)

Marauder-Lu, Thank you! It honestly doesn't matter if you haven't left a review, reading this is good enough for me and I'm really grateful for that. So thank you for all the reviews you've left, I appreciate all of them. =)

Guest (loved this story), Wow, thank you for that review! It was wonderful! =)

CosmoKiwi, Thank you very much! And I'm sorry if you're not a huge fan of my writing, haha. I'm just glad you still read this despite that. Thanks again! =)