You are my life

Catch up

(Alex's POV)

Watching Piper at work is making me want her more and more.
She was currently questioning Hopper since he was the first CO to be arrested and it was apparently his and Aleida's idea to smuggle the heroin into the prison in the first place.
It was also his own guilt that caused him to give Piper early release so in black and white it was pretty much down to him that Piper and I were currently having problems.
If it wasn't for him, there would be no drugs for me to be blackmailed with by Hellman and thus the whole McCullough shitshow may not have happened.
Apparently Hopper had made a deal with Piper and the prosecution team for less time if he spilled the beans on the other COs. Obviously to get McCullough and Hellman arrested, my beloved wife jumped at the chance and now here we are.

Hellman had just been questioned by Piper along with the witnesses testifying against him. Nicky was one of the witnesses helping her sue MCC and PolyCon. She was allowed to sit in on the trial as a thank you so when she was finished testifying, she sat in the front row of the gantry and leaned forward to talk to me. It was so good to see her again.

"Hey Vause. Thought you and blondie split? I now know who because of though." She asks me, glancing over at McCullough.
I nod solemnly then smirk and reply,
"When have you ever known Pipes and I to stay apart Nichols? Anyway, I let her go to be free of me since I was transferred by McPsycho over there and I've fucked up her life and our relationship enough already. I love her too much to keep doing it to her, never mind asking her to leave her life in New York that she's just rebuilt from the ground up. But, she followed me to Ohio and now here we are. Although, after what she's heard in court today, if we survive it'll be a miracle." I tell her sadly.

We were whispering as we watched in awe of Piper doing her thing, strutting around the courtroom as she questioned Hopper.
"So Mr Hopper, what you're telling me is that the only reason I got early release was because you were covering your own ass and if it wasn't for you my client would never have been put into a dangerous and compromising position by two correctional officers?" She asks him.

"Damn, the wifey did well for herself huh?" Nicky remarks.
Still smirking and with a raised eyebrow, I reply,
"I can't tell you how turned on I am by her right now Nicky, God. Watching her defend me and rip them to pieces is so fucking hot. Not to mention that pantsuit she's wearing, mmmmm."
Nicky chuckles, "Okay, I know Piper is a snack for you but I'm not gonna wipe that drool off your face, you're on your own for that one."
I roll my eyes playfully at her,
"I'll have you know that Piper Chapman is more of a 4 course meal to me Nichols but piece of advice from one lesbian to another? Find yourself a girl like Piper, especially this new Piper, you won't be disappointed. Trust me." I tell her.
Nicky once again chuckles but with a warning added to that,
"And to think you almost threw that away for a CO you don't even have feelings for. Good luck when she frees you though Vause, I don't think you're going to get off that easily, she looks pretty damn hurt."
I sadly and shamefully nod,
"I know."
Patting me on the shoulder, Nicky says,
"Nice to see you again Vause. I'll leave you to continue mentally undressing your wife."
I did just that.

After Piper had finished making her entire case, she came and sat beside me but shuffled her seat further away from mine.
This whole situation sucked.
I could tell she still loved me, I mean she came to Ohio for me and took the system to court for God's sake but she couldn't even look at me right now.
I understood but as I say, it sucked.

"Well, now that I've heard both sides of the case I'll let the jury decide on the verdict. I have already come to my conclusion on the matter but I won't reveal it until we have a verdict. Until then, court is in recess." The judge states and slams her gavel down.

I was led to the holding cells and stayed there for what felt like days. I paced and paced. If Piper lost this thing, I'd be sent back to Ohio and after what she'd heard I doubt she'd follow me there again.
Two and a half hours later, Piper came to get me.
"The jury have come to a decision Alex." She simply states.
As I was released from the holding cell, Piper walks ahead of me.
"Pipes, please can I just-"
She sweeps around to face me.
Her quick and sudden movement catches me by surprise and startles me.
"Just...stop. I don't want to hear it Alex. I've heard quite enough for one day thank you." She states and turns around, walking back in the direction of the courtroom.
I felt so deflated.
At this point I didn't care if we won or lost because if I didn't have Piper anymore, I'd lost anyway.

"All rise." The bailiff said.
We stood.
The presiding judge once again took her seat and simply asks,
"How does the jury find the defendants?"
There was an excruciating pause.
"We the jury find the defendants guilty on all accounts your honour." The head juror states.
"And I agree. That settles it then. Greg Hellman and Rick Hopper, I hereby sentence you to Riker's Island and Artesian McCullough, on special request by Councillor Vause-Chapman, I hereby sentence you to Litchfield Maximum where you will become a peer to the inmates you were above. Miss Ferguson, the state sues you for $500,000 and Miss Vause, you are now a free woman, congratulations. Case dismissed." The judge states and once again slams down her gavel as Linda and the three accused COs look on.

"Holy shit babe! You did it! Thank you!" I exclaim happily to Piper and thrust my wrists towards the bailiff to uncuff me. When he does, I grab Piper before she has time to complain, pick her up and swing her around happily, kissing her over and over again.
Our prison gang, who were here with us, jump up in celebration with us as I plant a deep kiss on Piper's lips, still holding her tight after making sure McCullough was looking. Hopefully this would give her the message that Piper is my one and only and that she should leave us BOTH alone. Piper kisses me back which fills me with hope but quickly breaks it and goes to thank the girls from our prison gang who came to testify.

Ignoring McCullough, my only focus is Piper as she basks in her success. I watch lovingly as our friends congratulate her and cheer for her although my trance is quickly broken when they include me in the celebration and congratulate me for getting out and being free to be with Piper.

I was so happy Piper didn't accept what I said a year ago. I just didn't want her to live alone here in New York for 3 years waiting for me. Or worse, uplift her life, like she did. Especially when there was another woman sniffing around her. Another woman that she'd developed feelings for at that.
Speaking of other women, McCullough getting sent to Litchfield at Piper's request was so clearly her final revenge and to be honest, it was brilliant. After coming to the conclusion that McCullough was hellbent on ruining my relationship with Pipes, let the inmates have a field day with her for all I care.

As our friends congratulate me, Piper tearfully says, "Congratulations Al" and quickly walks out.
From feeling on top of the world, I now felt the size of an ant.
I hated that I'd done this to Piper.
To us.
How could I have been so stupid?
I saw McCullough watch as Piper quickly left in tears. She looked disgustingly pleased.
I glare at her one final time before running after Piper at full speed.
"Piper! Babe, wait! It's you I love not her!"
From the corner of my eye, I could see McCullough look on jealously.

I got out of the courthouse just in time to catch Piper speeding off in a cab.
I sigh and sadly run my hand through my mane of black hair.
The bailiff catches up with me and pants,
"Mrs Vause-Chapman, we need you to come with us to sign your release papers."
Looking off in the direction of Piper's cab driving away, I sigh and return to the courthouse. I knew where Piper was staying anyway.
I was just so sorry I'd hurt my Pipes so much.

When I finally get to her hotel and ask for the room that she's staying in, the receptionist tells me,
"Mrs Vause-Chapman said she wouldn't be receiving visitors."
My eyebrows immediately shoot up.
Piper knew I had literally no where else to go.
I guess she was just that hurt and mad at me.
"Oh did she now? Not even for her wife? The other Mrs Vause-Chapman?" I ask, holding up my wedding ring.
The receptionist instantly apologises,
"Oh! I'm so sorry Mrs Vause-Chapman! She didn't tell me she was married to a woman. She looked pretty upset though, maybe you could cheer her up." She tells me.
Why Piper's marital status, to me, a woman, was of interest to her, I didn't want to know.
I let it go.
I have bigger fish to fry.
Or rather, a wife to defrost.