The Reign Of Vause

Christmas shopping with Nicky

(Piper's POV)

"Damn Piper. Looking fancy." Nicky quipped when I climbed out of the taxi to meet her in Times Square as requested.
I laughed, "Thanks Nicky, I came straight from the office."
"No Alex? She didn't answer my call." She asked.
I tightened my lip to tell her that I knew Alex was up to something,
"Hmmm yes she's been in her office all day. She even asked her assistant to bring her lunch up to her from the deli across the street." I start.
"Secretive. Even for Vause." She says narrowing her eyes and continuing,
"Do you think she's up to something?"
"Ooh yes. And that something is for me. She even told me." I tell her, a slight smile forming on my face.
"Hmm, what'd she say? Maybe it's your Christmas present." She asks.
I raised my eyebrows in consideration,
"Hmm, maybe. I caught her on her laptop and she wouldn't let me see what she was doing. All she did was ask 'Can't a girl surprise her wife anymore?'"
Nicky let out a small chuckle,
"As I said, secretive."
I changed the subject, anymore talk about what Alex was doing would make me want to know exactly what she was planning and turn on my heels and head straight back up to her office, but Nicky needed my help and I needed to get Alex's Christmas gift.
"Anyway, mind if we swing by a jewellery store? I need to get Alex's gift, you're not the only one who left Christmas shopping for your other half a little late." I ask her guiltily, hailing another cab.
"Oh sure, by all means. It's perfect because I was about to ask you the same thing." Nicky laughed as we climbed into the back of the taxi.

I gave the driver the name of the jewellery store and we started driving.
"So, what's the plan for Lorna then?" I ask Nicky with a smile.
"Well, you know Lorna, she's pretty superstitious so I'm gonna get her a charm bracelet and have a charm for each month that I've loved her." She finishes smugly.
"Nicky, that's a beautiful idea, I know Lorna will love it." I smiled.
"That's the plan. So come on, what's the plan for Vause then?" She smirked.
I smugly smirked back and pulled out two small pictures of Alex and I. Nicky looked at them.
One photo was a picture of Alex and I on our first date that we'd gotten a passer by to take and the other was a picture of us having our first dance together at our wedding 5 months ago that Cal had taken.
Nicky looked from me to the pictures and back to me again. She grabbed the first picture.
"Look at you two! Look at your hair! Look at you both looking so nervous." She giggled in shock.
Back then, I had long curly hair and Alex had blue extensions. It came as a bit of a shock to Nicky.
I took the picture back from her.
"That, is Alex and I on our first date, 2 weeks after we met-"
Nicky interrupted me,
"Jesus, 2 weeks? What took so long? Well, I guess it is you two." She smirks.
"Let's just say, Alex had a girlfriend that she failed to mention when we met and the silent treatment can be very powerful with my wife." I told her.
"Damn, wait, was that girlfriend called Sylvia by any chance?" She asked with raised eyebrows.
I frowned in confusion,
"Yes, how'd you know?"
"Your bachelorette party. Alex saw her immediately and asked me if we could leave. She stayed because she saw her ex harassing you." She told me.
I smiled,
"Of course. What would we do without our wives, eh Nicky?" I laughed.
"Beats me." She laughed back as we climbed out of the taxi that had pulled up to the store. I handed the driver the bills and shut the cab door behind me.
Nicky and I went in and she immediately zoned into the charm bracelets for Lorna.
I went to the lockets.
Alex liked big jewellery, not chunky, but big. If that cross necklace she was wearing when we first met and her old favourite ring were any indication.
I picked out a locket that was in the shape of a love heart, it was a black diamond with small white diamonds surrounding it. It was about 2cm tall and had a fine silver chain. Very Alex.
"This one please." I said, pointing it out as the jeweller picked it up to show me.
"Do you have any photos you would like to include in it or would you like the necklace as it is?" She asked.
"Yes, could you fit these to it please?" I ask, handing her the photos.
"No problem, it'll be ready in 10." She smiled, taking my photos and Alex's soon to be new necklace into the back.
I smiled to myself and walked over to Nicky who had just bought Lorna her charm bracelet.
"All set?" She asked me.
"Nearly. Alex's gift is in the making." I said looking at my watch and continuing,
"Got another 5 minutes to go yet."
"In the making?" Nicky asked confused.
"Oh, yes, I'm getting Alex a locket with those photos in it, do you think she'll like it?" I ask Nicky nervously.
She looks at me reassuringly,
"Piper, if Alex's feelings for you are any indication, she'll love it. Honestly? I reckon if you got her, I don't know, a sandwich, for Christmas, she'll love it because you got it for her." She says smiling and pointing out the window to a random New Yorker walking by with a sandwich in hand.
I laughed, "Yeah, that and the fact she didn't have to make it."
"Mrs Vause? Your necklace is ready." The jeweller said from behind me.
"Great. Thank you." I said, turning to face her, smiling.
"Would you like it gift wrapped?" She asked.
"Please." I confirmed with a nod.
She got to wrapping it and when she was done, she handed me the black box with a silver bow around it and I handed her the necessary bills.
Nicky and I left the store as we hailed a cab. Getting in we asked for Times Square again, once there Nicky got out, I stayed.
"You not getting out?" She asked me.
"No, I can't I'm sorry, I promised Alex I'd bring home dinner." I apologised.
"Eh, no worries, I'll catch up with you both later then." She smiles, handing the driver bills for her journey and shut the door behind her.
"Bye Nicky." I wave then gave the driver the name of mine and Alex's favourite, local Chinese takeout place and got out when we arrived. I thanked the driver and paid.