"This is so fucking good! You finally did it, Red!" Nicky said between bites of a coconut cake that Red made. She had been trying for years to come close to making this cake as good as Ms. Claudette and finally she did it.

"Yeah, Red. This shit," Boo leaned in to whisper, "is better than Ms. Claudette's."

"Shhhh!" They all said at the same time.

"So what's the occasion, Red?" Morello asked, whipping her mouth with her shirt sleeve.

"I guess I just wanted to try something new."

Lie.

"But why now? Why not like last week for Piper's birthday party, which would have been so much better with this white coconut cake to go along with those white toilet paper decorations!" Boo joked around.

"I just thought of it actually."

Lie.

"Well either way, it tastes great." Piper said happily.

Red looked at Piper. She had known her for a months, almost a year. In the beginning she wasn't liked, but Red came to like her. She worked so smartly about the back cream when she first got her. She did all she could with what she had. Red appreciated that.

Red looked at Alex. She didn't have much of a relationship with her. But what she did know, she seemed like a girl who wanted to keep to herself for the most part. She didn't want any trouble; Red liked that.

Red looked at Boo. Boo had been her friend for years. She was sarcastic more often than not, but she would do anything for anyone who was on her good side; she was loyal. Red admired that.

Red looked at Morello. Lorna was one of her girls, ever so sweet and always wanting to help out around the kitchen although her "help" was never helpful. She was always so positive. Her lipstick always looked lovely, she took care of herself. Red supported that.

Red looked at Nicky. Nicky was a whole other story. Nicky was very special to Red. She was one of her girls, one of her daughters. But unlike the others, Nicky really was her daughter. Not biological, but yet more so than the others. Nicky was the only one who called her "Mom" and Nicky was the only one who Red felt truly in her heart that she would do absolutely everything and anything for. Nicky was different and in the best way possible. They were so very close and Red loved her with every fiber of her being. Comforted at the thought every time, Red knew Nicky loved her just as much. Red needed that.

Dinner was over and they all slowly started to leave the cafeteria, scattering to various locations like the bathrooms or their bunks. Red got up and went to the kitchen to finish cleaning up like she always did.

Nicky followed her.

Red walked over to the sink to get some of the rags wet so she could start whipping down the counter tops. She turned around and was startled.

"Oh, Nicky. You scared me."

"Sorry, I guess I didn't realize how quiet I was."

"What's on your mind?"

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, you're back here aren't you? What's wrong? I can tell, I'm your mother."

"I want to know what's wrong with you?"

Red felt surprised but didn't let her face show it.

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong with me."

"I can tell. I'm your daughter."

Norma walked in behind Nicky.

"Oh good Norma. I'm almost finished. Could you just put the trays on the drying rack? Then we are done."

"Nicky I'll come to your bunk tonight, ok?" Red said softly.

"Alright." Nicky sort of hesitated to leave, but she did after Red nodding at her.

"Norma, I'm going to tell her tonight."

Norma gave Red a very surprised look.

"No. No, I haven't told her yet." Red's eyes began to water. "I know, I'm a terrible mother who is about to become a worse one." Her tears threatened to spill over but she fought it.

There would be enough tear shedding tonight.

*Later that night*

Red lay awake in her bed, waiting. Hesitating. Wondering if she was doing the right thing. Oh, what was she thinking! Of course she was. She had to tell her and she was going to. But is now the right time? The sooner the better.

Red got up and snuck out of her bunk to Nicky's.

She waited to late and her daughter had fallen asleep.

It was rare, but these moments have happened before. The beautiful moments when Red got to see Nicky without a worry on her face. The beautiful moments when Red got to see her sweet girl look as innocent as ever. She didn't want to but she had to wake her.

She put her hand on Nicky's shoulder and shook her gently. "Nicky. Nicky." She whispered. "Nicky, wake up."

Slowly, her eyes began to open. When she opened them completely, she jumped at the sight of someone hovering over her.

"Shhh, it's ok. It's only me." Red soothed, resting her hand on Nicky's.

"What time is it? You said you were coming to my bunk, I waited. Didn't realize it would be this late."

"Sorry."

"So, tell me what's wrong." Nicky's eyes poured so much concern into Red's.

"I, ummm.." Red's eyes watered.

"Ma, what's going on? Are you going to cry? You never cry! I've only see you cry once and that's when Tricia died. Oh no, did someone die? Are you dying? Ma?!" Panic rose in Nicky's voice the longer she spoke.

"No, no. No." Red tried to calm down.

"Ok good. Well, what is it?"

"I..love you." Red said through her quivering lips.

"And you know I love you too." Nicky assured.

"I'm..." Red couldn't get the words out, not with the lump forming in her throat, indicating just how badly she wanted to cry.

"...pregnant." Nicky joked and smiled. "Alright, alright. If it's a boy, I'd say name him Nicholas and call him Nichols and if it's a girl, you gotta name her Nichole and call her Nicky." She was laughing at her own little joke.

"...getting out."

Nicky stopped laughing. The smile was gone instantly from her face. "What?"

"I'm getting out. My sentence is almost up."

Nicky was dumbfounded. Never in a million years would she have expected this to be what Red wanted to tell her.

Now it was Nicky's turn to have tears in her eyes and choke on her words.

"well my sentence is almost up too." Nicky said, sniffling. "I've only got 5 months left. It's not so bad." She sounded a little hopeful. "When do you get out?"

"On Friday." Red cried.

"That's two days from now..." Tears were streaming down Nicky's face harder and harder the more she realized the reality of the situation.

"Mom..."

"I'm getting out...Oh, Nicky..."

Nicky grabbed Red's neck and pulled her close. Their embrace lasted for a long time. Both were crying. Both were scared.