Authors Note: A big, fat thank you to EVERYONE who has sent me lovely messages, giving me great reviews and generally asking how I have been due to my absence! I'm okay! Well, I'm getting there! Hello anxiety! But here is the new chapter! Massive apologies for taking so long to upload and finish tweaking it. Thank you all for your continued support and I hope you enjoy it :) x

Twenty minutes later they were walking side by side down the street.

"Where are we going?" Alex asked.

"It's a surprise".

She rolled her eyes slightly. "Piper, you know I hate surprises".

"Well, you're going to love this one, I promise".

Piper grinned and grabbed her hand before leading her down a side street. It was lined with small coffee shops and eateries before ending in front of a large open park. It was decorated in coloured lights and flags, with loud music playing.

Alex laughed.

"You brought me to the fucking fair?".

Piper turned to look at her. "Well, after Larry I thought we could use a little fun!".

"If you wanted fun, we could of stayed in your apartment" Alex winked at her.

"Remember what I said about taking it slow?".

"Then what was that earlier? Cause where I'm from that was the complete opposite of slow!".

Piper closed her eyes and slowly exhaled.

"That was something entirely different Al. It was..it was just…" she trailed off looking away.

Alex reached out for her hand, causing Piper to turn her head. Alex gently nodded.

"Okay Chapman, show me a good time".

Piper smiled slightly. She straightened herself up and pulled her towards the entrance. "You'll love it!".

They spent the next hour of their evening playing games, eating hot dogs and winning each other the most ridiculous gifts they could find. Piper had gifted Alex an over sized, bright orange pair of glasses, and Alex had gifted Piper a plastic archery set. "You know, so I don't have to keep breaking out with the butch and beating the men away", she had joked.

It was dark now, and the park was mostly filled with teenagers and adults.

"What next?" Alex asked.

Piper had stopped in front of the big wheel.

"Are you fucking kidding me? Are you twelve?".

Piper pouted at her. "Please…".

She pushed her glasses up her nose slightly and sighed.

"Fine. But you owe me".

Piper paid, and dragged her into one of the carts.

It was getting cool, so she leaned into Alex. She felt an arm wrap round her shoulder, and pull her in closer. This is what was missing.

Alex leant across and kissed the top of her head. She felt Pipers hand come up and intertwine with hers. The ride had started, and they slowly rose up and up and up until they were right at the top.

Alex looked around. The view was breathing taking. The sun was starting to set, and this high up she had an incredible view of the the large park they were in, as well as the city. She smiled. This is freedom.

Unknown to Alex, Piper was watching her. She looks so relieved. She felt a surge of love for the woman next to her. Piper squeeze her hand. I never want to forget this moment. Letting go of her hand, she pulled out her phone and swiped up to tap the camera icon.

She leant into Alex's shoulder, and held her arm out in front of her. Alex held her close and smiled. Tap. She then turned and kissed her cheek. Tap. Alex took the phone off her. She over extended her arm to get the right angle. The sky was a brilliant orange colour now, light rays still just managing to creep through. She looked at Piper. She's so fucking beautiful. Tap.

They spent the rest of the ride in a comfortable silence, taking in the views and enjoying each others presence. They got off the ride and headed towards the exit gates, hand in hand.

"Thank you" Alex stated quietly.

Piper stopped and turned to face her. She leant in and slowly pressed lips gently against hers. Alex leant into the kiss, wrapping her arms around her in the process. It was slow, soft and gentle. They broke apart. Piper resting her forehead on Alex's.

"Theres so much we need to catch up on, how do we start?".

"Maybe over coffee?" Alex suggested. "Fuck do I need good coffee! And I'm guessing you can guide us to somewhere spectacular".

She grinned. "C'mon".

She grabbed Alex's arm and pulled her off in the opposite direction they came from.

After a few minutes walking, they were outside a modern looking coffee shop. It was two levels, and the upstairs had a wrap around balcony. Piper walked inside and gestured for Alex to find a seat upstairs.

This place is insane. The walls were printed with quotes from different novels she recognised. The place was set up with a series of high backed booths lining the walls, creating a sense of privacy and intimacy. She walked out onto the balcony and picked a booth it the corner next to a heat lamp.

I can't believe I'm here. Don't fuck this up Vause. Not this time.

Looking around, there was only one other person outside. It was an older gentleman drinking a coffee and reading a magazine.

The presence of Piper walking towards her holding two steaming mugs of coffee snapped her out of her thoughts.

Piper placed the tray in front of them and slid in opposite her. Piper picked up her drink and took a careful sip.

"So, where do we start?".

"Well you know where I've been the last 7 years, what about you? How did you end up here again?".

Piper bit her lip nervously.

"Well, after I left, I didn't want to run back to my parents. I didn't want them to see me and to try and control me" she swallowed.

"Nobody knew where I had been, and I kept it that way. I didn't want to be questioned about it, I had to make myself forget".

She leant over the table and grabbed Alex's hand.

"The only way I could continue, was to pretend it never happened. To get rid of everything that I associated with you, and to build a new life from scratch. So I got rid of everything, all except this necklace and one photo. I stayed with Polly and started working with my dad".

Alex laughed, "I bet you loved that".

"Not really, but it paid well, and after a while I was able to move out into my apartment, the same one I'm in now. Along the way I met Larry. He moved in opposite Polly. Obviously he was not my type, and he keep showing up and hanging out with us. He asked me out after a few months, and I kept putting it off, but finally caved. He was nice and normal, and he took care of me. It was nice to have someone close again". She took a long sip of her drink.

"I kept you locked away in my heart, and in my mind. I wouldn't let myself think of you. Things were okay for a while, but things had been lacking for a long time. There was no passion anymore. I didn't feel heat or desire, and we had fallen into a routine. It was stable. I spent a lot of time with Polly and we started making soaps and lotions. We started it as just a way of passing some time, but it really took my mind off of everything. One day we just decided to try and sell some of it. We took one of the batches down to the market and we sold them all. We did that for a while, before eventually launching the website. That took off and after a year we started pitching to stores and hotel chains. We saved enough to open the store, and here we are".

Alex had been intently listening to her the whole time. She squeezed Pipers hand.

"I'm impressed. I'm proud of you Pipes. I really mean it. You came out of it on the good side. You managed to put everything aside and rebuild your life. You should be really fucking proud of yourself kid".

"I am. I mean, its not where I thought I would be. But I've done it on my own terms. And we are progressing everyday. I enjoy the work I do, and I get to work with my best friend. So I basically get paid to hang out" she laughed.

"Yeah that must be cool! Me and my friend Nicky are planning to work together, we are just unsure what. I'm sure she has some crazy idea though!".

"Are you able to do that? Create a business I mean? Do you have, well you know…".

"Are you asking if I have money?".

Piper blushed. "Sorry thats rude of me, and not my place. I shouldn't of asked".

Alex gave a throaty laugh. "Stop thinking into things so much kid. And to answer the question, we both have money. A lot of it. I know I spent a lot whilst in the business, but I saved and invested a lot of it as well. I just dont have access to it yet. Which should sort itself out soon enough. And Nicky is a trust fund baby! Shes fucking rolling in it!".

"So you're okay?" Said Piper tentatively.

"Yeah I'm okay kid".

They spent the next hour filling in missing details and chatting. It was getting late, and Piper had to work the next day, so Alex arranged for an uber to pick them up outside.

The journey was filled with a comfortable silence, and it wasn't long before they pulled up outside Pipers apartment.

"This is me" she said as she unbuckled her seat belt.

"Can you wait just one minute?" Alex asked the driver, who nodded at her in the rear view mirror.

Alex quickly jumped out of the car and walked round to open Pipers door.

Piper took her hand and slowly got out of the car and shit the door. The pair stopped at the steps outside her apartment.

Piper was the first to speak. "I've had a really good couple of days with you Al. I've felt so many emotions and so much has happened, and its really a lot to take in".

"I know, and i'm sorry I've rocked up in your life and made it all crazy again" she chuckled.

"Not crazy, just exhilarating. I mean I know we're not in Cambodia anymore taking drugs with drags queens on a beach, but questionable fried food and a fair ground is a close second".

She stepped closer to Alex, who wrapped her arms round her and held her close.

"I just need a couple of days to process. I need some time to think, and to talk to Polly before my brain explodes".

Alex leant down and kissed her head. "Take as long as you need kid, you know i'm here. Im not going anywhere anymore".

"So its okay if I call you in a couple of days?".

Alex didn't answer, but leant in and gentle captured her lips, before walked back towards the car. "You did say slow, and I agreed. I promise I won't fuck things up Piper. I mean it".

She opened the door and got in the car. She smirked at her, and Piper watched her drive off down the street. She watched until the car went out of sight, and let herself into her apartment. She threw her keys onto the counter and kicked off her shoes, before walking into her bedroom and falling onto her bed.

She smiled to herself. I'm going to fall asleep feeling happy for the first time in a long while.

She sat up and stripped off her clothes, before climbing under the covers. Picking up her phone she needed to send one last message.

To Alex:

I've had a really great day with you Al. Thank you for being there when I needed you, and thank you for giving me the time. I promise I won't fuck things up either. Not this time. Good night X

She put her phone on here bedside table and curled up into a comfortable position.

She fell asleep, feeling the most relaxed she had in a long time.