PROLOGUE

2013

The Riot

As Red and Frieda hurried towards the cafeteria, Frieda turned to her friend, " I need your advice on something," she said.

" You haven't buried anymore bodies in the garden have you?" Red asked warily. " Or what's left of it."

" Of course not. This is about Zoe."

" Oh, well I'm all ears."

" I want to ask her to marry me," Frieda said and Red stared at her in surprise. Tough, no-nonsense, ever so practical, Frieda Berlin wanted to marry? It was made clear to Red then that Frieda was deeply in love with Zoe and Red would have no chance with Zoe ever again.

" Do you think she'll say yes?" Frieda went on.

" You know she will- that woman really loves you," Red replied, " I guess if you want to marry her before she gets out, you can ask the Chaplin to marry the two of you off. Like Lorna had done."

" I know she loves me-I even knew she still loved me during the time we relapsed a few months ago. Even though she said she didn't, I knew otherwise." Frieda said.

Red's eyebrows went up and she stared at her friend. " When you and Zoe what?"

" Um…when we slept together a few months ago."

" But-Zoe and I were still together then," Red frowned digesting this news.

" I'm sorry Red, I thought you knew."

" Well I didn't, this is news to me." Red said.

" I thought that was the reason why you and Zoe broke up in the first place?"

" No it wasn't. I broke up with her because I could tell she still loved you Frieda. It's always been you." Red told her, " I guess she really didn't love me. "

" I'm sorry Red," Frieda said again.

" That's all in the past. All I want is for Zoe to be happy and if marrying you will make her happy, than I certainly won't stand in the way." Red said and smiled at Frieda, " And I'm really happy for you both. Hope I'm invited to the wedding." A crowd of women ran past them, hooting and hollering, " This riot, what a mess,"

" I think it's exciting," Frieda said, glad Red didn't seem upset or angry that Frieda had slept with Zoe.

" You would," Red scoffed.

The two CO's opened the door to the cage and Frieda barged through as Skanky, Brandy and Helen captured them and tied them up. Frieda had shot them both with her homemade darts and she made them think she had shot them with wolfs bane. The alarm had finally stopped and Frieda can hear herself think again. One of the bald girls tied CO Stratman's hands together. " You coming?" she asked Frieda as Frieda picked up the economy sized jar of peanut butter.

" No, I have to find someone," Frieda replied as the three ladies left with the guards. Frieda followed them out and ran into Zoe.

" There you are. I've been looking for you," Zoe greeted Frieda, " Where have you been?"

There was no one in the cafeteria now so Frieda leaned forward and kissed her chastely, " I've been locked up in that storage cage," she said.

" All this time?" Zoe replied, " What happened?"

" Long story. Are you okay?"

" I'm fine. I helped Gina turn off the alarm. But I don't want to get involved anymore. I've got three weeks left and I don't want to jeopardize that."

" That's understandable. I was meant to meet up with Red later but I have no clue where she disappeared to. Why don't we go and ride this out in the bunker?"

" Thought you'd never ask," Zoe replied as the two headed for Frieda's bunker.

Zoe was Frieda's girlfriend-the love of her life. They've recently gotten back together after breaking up two years ago and things were stronger than ever. Two years without Zoe had been torture. Frieda was never interested in another woman after Zoe but Zoe had gotten together with Red. Red had fallen in love with Zoe after Zoe had helped Red get her family back. Frieda and Zoe even relapsed and had spent a passionate hour together and this was a few months ago, while Zoe was still with Red.

Frieda wrapped Zoe up in a hug before they cuddled up together on the cot that Frieda kept in the corner of her bunker. " We can ride it out down here. I've got enough supplies to keep us going. Red thinks this riot won't last-three days tops." Frieda told her.

" Is she okay?"

" She's fine, last I saw of her, she was going exploring."

" She's up to something," Zoe guessed as Frieda tightened her arms around Zoe. Frieda's mouth came down onto hers hungrily and for a brief moment they both forgot about what was happening upstairs. When suddenly they heard a loud bang, making them both jump. Frieda looked up at the ceiling, " That sounded like a gunshot," she said and Zoe grabbed her arm.

" You're not going up there are you?" she asked, alarmed.

" No, but I think it's time to bring our friends down here. Where's it's safe."

Zoe went quiet, " You're going to…bring people down here?"

Zoe didn't like the idea-at all. She didn't want to be selfish, but this was their place-the only place where they can be alone. She was surprised Frieda was even considering it.

" Which friends are you talking about?" she asked finally and Frieda told her. " Just a select few," Frieda grabbed some paper and a pencil and started drawing a diagram-directions on how to find the bunker. She looked up to see Zoe frowning.

" Look, it's better to be down here then up there in the Purge. You heard it-someone has a gun up there and it went off. Don't you want our friends safe?"

" Of course I do. Who bought in a gun? I thought the guards weren't allowed."

" They aren't. It must be one of those new guards," Frieda said, " It'll be okay-we'll all ride out this riot together." She cupped Zoe's face in her hands and kissed her.

" Our time alone has come to an end," Zoe said sighing, " and when things goes to shit down here, then don't say I didn't warn you." She went and sat back down on the cot.

Frieda watched her for a few minutes and decided this was the time. She's been thinking about doing what she'd been planning to do for a while now but there's never been the right time. And there probably won't ever be a right time. It was now or never and Frieda's hands started to sweat. She wiped them on her pants and took a deep breath.

" Zoe, I want to ask you…," Frieda stammered and cleared her throat then got down on one knee and took Zoe's hands in hers. " Zoe Katherine McKenzie, will you marry me?"

Zoe stared at her dumbfounded. " What did you say?" she whispered.

" Will you marry me?" Frieda asked again and waited.

" Yes, Frieda, of course I'll marry you," Zoe finally said and threw her arms around Frieda's neck, almost knocking her off balance.

" Oh thank god, I actually thought you were going to say no for a minute there." Frieda sighed with relief as Zoe leaned down and kissed her tenderly.

A month later

Litchfield Max

Suzanne was having snacks with Tiffany Doggett one late afternoon. Things were sombre in B block. It's been two and a half days since Zoe McKenzie was found dead in the cell she had shared with Frieda Berlin. That awful day had been so sad-Frieda had collapsed with grief and was taken away and no one heard anything since.

Suzanne's heart hurt for Frieda. The last month she was starting to get to know the two older ladies well and liked them both. They had been in minimum with her but they never really knew each other. And it was obvious to her the two ladies had adored and loved each other.

And now Zoe was dead. Zoe, the kindest person Suzanne had ever met, was gone forever. She wondered why Zoe would do such a thing, committing suicide. She had thought things were going well between her and Frieda.

Maybe it's nothing to do with them, maybe it was something else. Suzanne thought as she took a bite from her vanilla pudding. Doggett nudged her suddenly. " Look who's back, " Doggett said and Suzanne looked up. A guard was walking Frieda back to her cell. Frieda looked pale and sad as she hesitated in the doorway of her cell before disappearing inside.

Suzanne stood up to see her but Doggett grabbed her arm, " I think you should give the lady some space," she said.

" Okay," Suzanne agreed doubtfully and returned to her pudding.

An hour later, Suzanne headed to Frieda's cell. Doggett had gone to outside time and Suzanne decided this was a good time to see how Frieda was.

Frieda was sitting on her bed, holding what looked like a hair ribbon in her hands. " Frieda?" Suzanne greeted the older woman and Frieda looked up.

" This was hers," Frieda said, " This hair ribbon. She didn't like to tie her hair up though because having her hair up gave her headaches…"

" Frieda, I just wanted to say how sorry I am," Suzanne replied, " She was a nice lady and it's kind of a waste and-"

" If you don't mind, I'd like to be alone," Frieda interrupted as she put the hair ribbon under her pillow.

" But-"

Frieda stood up, " I'm trying to grieve-please just give me some space." She said and Suzanne noticed that her hands were shaking.

" Mommy said that having company is good for when you're grieving," Suzanne said as she stepped inside the cell.

What is that girl doing? I told her to leave! Frieda thought.

" No offense, but I'd rather be locked in a cage with a swarm of bees," Frieda retorted.

" Was that a no? Some people love bees," Suzanne said. Ten minutes later Frieda finally managed to get rid of Warren. She laid back down on her bed. Her mind was still a bit foggy from the pills they had forced her to take and they dulled her senses.

She rolled over on her side and closed her eyes, trying her hardest not to think about Zoe.

Several Months Ago

Frieda was playing a game of cards with Norma in Norma and Nicky's cube when Red appeared, looking furious. She leaned forward angrily and Frieda shrank back. Red's eyes were cold and hard, " Why did you do it huh? Because I wouldn't let you grow pot? Because I overwatered your tomatoes? What did it take to sell me out?" she yelled in Frieda's face.

" Huh?" Frieda asked confused when Red knocked her cards out of her hand and slammed Frieda against the partition, " How could you do this to me? I gave you fibre supplements! I gave you BENGAY! And this is how you repay me? What did it take to sell me out?"

" Red, I have no idea what you're talking about," Frieda protested, clearly distressed that her best friend had suddenly turned on her.

" Red, come on." Nicky grabbed Red and pulled her off Frieda and herded her out of the cube.

" I have no idea what she's talking about," Frieda said despairingly to Norma.

Later that afternoon, Frieda went back to her cube to find Zoe reading on her bed.

" What's wrong?" Zoe asked, Frieda was obviously distressed about something.

Frieda told her what happened and Zoe's eyes darkened. " Red had no right to do that to you," she said, " There are other members of the gardening club. It could have been anyone!"

" I don't know who it was, but it wasn't me," Frieda answered.

" I know that,"

" Don't worry about it. Red will see that I wasn't the one who squealed," Frieda said confidently.

" Well, she had better apologise to you for threatening you," Zoe said.

" You're not going to do anything stupid are you?" Frieda demanded, " I'd rather just let it be."

" I promise," Zoe assured her but she crossed a finger behind her back.

Later on, they were both at movie night. Frieda avoided Red and sat in the third row in the middle of Zoe and Chang. It was a good movie and Frieda found herself getting immersed in it. Zoe munched on some popcorn and offered Frieda some but she shook her head. She noticed Red had gotten up from the second row on the left side and headed out. Zoe crumped up the paper bag. " I'm just going to the bathroom," she whispered to Frieda, " Be right back."

Frieda nodded, not taking her eyes off the screen. Zoe didn't blame her-the movie was good-The Fugitive with Harrison Ford but she'd seen it before anyway.

She whispered to the CO that was on duty that night that she was going to the bathroom, but CO Donaldson just waved her on.

She didn't see Red in the cubes, so the bathroom was a safe bet. She went in and found her former girlfriend, tidying up her hair.

Red looked up, " Oh, hey," she said, " Enjoying the movie?" she took out a toothbrush from her caddy but Zoe leaned over and knocked it away and it cluttered into the sink.

" How dare you," she hissed, grabbing Red's hand and squeezing it-hard. Red winced as Zoe pressed down on her knuckles.

" Frieda told me about your little encounter," Zoe went on, " What gave you the right to accuse her of selling you out? You know very well she wouldn't do that. She's been your friend ever since you were ousted from your family!"

" I-"

" And she's not the only member of the gardening club," Zoe continued, her big brown eyes darkening, " Did you threaten her to get back at her because she and I are back together again?"

" No I didn't, I was just angry and not thinking straight," Red replied, " I know now that she wasn't the one. "

Zoe let go of her hand, " If it's one thing I hate it's seeing Frieda upset. And you really upset her. She wants to forget about this but I can't."

" Look, I'm sorry I hurt her feelings. " Red rubbed her aching hand. She'd forgotten how scary Zoe can be.

" It's not me you should be apologising to," Zoe pointed out.

Red nodded, " I know."

" Good." Zoe said and left the bathroom. Red looked down at her hands and noticed they were shaking.

The following morning, Frieda headed towards the greenhouse, she had a few jobs to do that morning. Zoe had an appointment with Healy, she was hoping to start up a book club with a few like-minded readers. Frieda was watering her vegetables when a shadow fell across her and she looked up, It was Red.

" Peace offering," Red greeted her, holding out three Little Debbie crème pies-the real kind, not the fake ones.

" My favourite," Frieda replied, taking them from her.

" I know." Red said, " Look, I just wanted to-"

" There's no need to apologise. What's done is done." Frieda interrupted.

" No, let me get this out." Red took a deep breath, " I'm sorry Frieda. I was wrong to accuse you the way I did. I know who sold me out and it wasn't you. You've been my most loyal friend when my family casted me out. Forgive me?"

" Of course," Frieda assured her, " You were right to think it was me-after all, I'm no saint, I have a shady past. But I'd never sell you out Red."

" I know that now," Red said as she watched the older woman water her tomatoes. It amazed her that even after Zoe went back to Frieda, she and Frieda still remained good friends.

" Zoe's right-I do suck at apologies."

Frieda looked up at her," Did Zoe put you up to this?" Frieda asked after realising that Red would have never apologised to Frieda on her own. Frieda agreed with Zoe, Red did have a hard time with apologises. It all had something to do with that Russian pride.

" Well-" Red hesitated, not wanting to get Zoe into trouble with Frieda. But she knew deep down that she wanted to cause some trouble in paradise. Anything to get the ball rolling and have them break up again…even it might mean losing Frieda as a friend.

But who's to say that will happen? She lost Zoe to Frieda and she and Frieda were still good.

Weren't they?