Chapter One

Red found her in the shower. She'd known, somehow, that was where she would be.

Red hadn't been born yesterday. During her many years at Litchfield, she had seen enough drug addicts detox to know what they looked like, and how they thought. In most cases, the first night was spent in the bathroom, glued to the toilet.

Normally, she left them to their own devices; not her problem. But this one was different.

From the moment they'd met, Red had seen something in this girl. She'd just been coming in, the orange of her uniform standing out in the sea of beige. Red had automatically been drawn to her, allowing her eyes to follow the new arrival until she'd rounded the corner. She thought she'd heard one of the guards call her Nichols.

Nichols.

When their eyes met for the first time, Red had seen a combination of desperation and resigned sadness in the girl's that had brought out the best in her - if you called motherly instinct and protectiveness the best in someone.

So, she'd remained awake until she was certain the guards wouldn't notice if she left, and gone straight to the washroom. Norma, being perceptive as she was, followed her.

As Red had expected, Nichols was there, moaning like a wounded animal. It hurt the older woman's heart to see someone in such pain.

Quickly, she crossed the room and took the girl in her arms.

"Norma's gonna get you some mouthwash. A clean mouth makes you feel better, hm?" She didn't know who she was trying to reassure as she led them both over to the sink.

Carefully, with a gentleness only an experienced mother could have, Red cleaned her face, imparting the best advice she could possibly give.

"You've gotta hit rock bottom before you know which direction to go in… welcome to the floor, kid."

Nichols was in quite a state, so much so that Red relented and said what she knew the girl needed to hear most, even if it wasn't entirely the truth.

"It'll be better from now on."

Her accent was thicker, to the point that her words felt coated in it, and her voice shook with emotion. Red already felt so much for the girl in her arms, even though they'd barely spoken, and she knew that they would be close. Red could easily see taking Nichols into her family. It seemed natural. But Red would never allow a member of her family to get away with something like this, and even though they hadn't known each other for more than a few moments she could already feel herself falling in love. It was out of that love that she spoke next:

"And what I'll do to you if you use again will hurt a lot more than this. Remember what I'm saying!"

She almost shook the poor girl, trying to show her how important it was that she understand, but realized that physical movement might only make her situation worse. So, instead, she settled for pulling her in tighter, offering her shoulder to cry on both literally and figuratively. Nichols readily took it, sobbing unabashedly until no more tears would come, and then shaking silently for a time. Eventually, she slowed and then stopped, and only when she felt completely still in Red's arms did the senior inmate speak again.

"What's your name, honey?"

"Nicky," she got out, quiet and unsure, the first word she'd spoken since Red had arrived.

"Nicky," Red repeated, testing it on her tongue. "I like that. Powerful."

"Thanks," Nicky said, her voice coming out stronger now.

"It's my pleasure, sweetheart."

"I won't use again, I swear," Nicky's tone was vehement and her eyes were shining as they locked with Red's. Something about the older woman made Nicky unable to entertain the thought of letting her down. Even though they'd just met, Nicky felt a bond, a connection, that she already sorely needed in this place. She felt like they'd been together for years, side by side in everything, and longed to make that a reality.

Red gave a reassuring smile and patted Nicky on the back.

"Now that's more like it."

Nicky returned the smile with one of her own, feeling a disproportionate sense of accomplishment at making Red's face light up like that.

She could tell that Red wasn't the type to smile often. They had that in common. She didn't take shit, Nicky already knew, but she protected her loved ones whether they were blood related or not. She'd seen how Red handled her so-called 'prison daughters' at lunch. Even though it was only her first day, it was obvious to Nicky that Red would do anything in her power to keep those close to her safe.

And, Nicky found, she longed to be part of that.

Her own mother had never cared enough about her to even talk to her, let alone help her out of her drug problem. Marka had always cared more about her precious money than Nicky.

If Nicky were able to become Red's daughter, in any respect, she knew her time here would be so much easier to endure.

"I… thank you," Nicky said finally. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

"It's no big deal," Red waved her off. "I'm sure you had someone taking care of you at home, I just want to help too."

Nicky's lip trembled, and she bit down on it hard, almost like a reflex.

"No, actually," she managed in a whisper. "My mom throws money at her problems and expects them to go away." As she spoke of her mother, Nicky grew resentful. "She threw money at me, and, oh look who didn't stop using drugs! Look who ended up in fucking prison!"

And suddenly, as Nicky looked into Red's eyes and saw nothing but compassion and a deep worry, all her anger faded into tired sadness. She had to grip the side of the sink to keep from collapsing under the weight of her emotions.

But, for once, someone was there to catch her. Red held her up, supported her, made her whole again with kind words and assurances. There was no judgement in Red's actions - only caring. It was almost enough to bring her back to tears.

"Well," Red resolved, her tone instilled with a confidence more meant for Nicky's benefit than her own, "now you have me."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, silly girl, that you're entitled to a mother who will actually care for you. You should have had one all your life, but I'll settle for fixing the present where the past can't be changed."

Everything, Red knew, had been worth it just for the look on Nicky's face at these words.

"Are-are you kidding me? You're not fucking with me?"

Quicker than Nicky could think, she was swept into a tight embrace.

"No, Nicky. I would never lie to you. That's the first thing you need to learn. I am many things, but I am not a liar. Now." Red carefully let go of Nicky, making sure the younger woman looked as well as she could under the circumstances. "We'd both better get back to the dorms, before someone gets suspicious."

"Of course," Nicky said, the smile on her face coming unbidden. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course," Red repeated, her grin matching her newest daughter's. "Sleep well."

As Nicky reached the door, she turned back at the last moment to find Red watching her. She leaned against the doorframe. Nicky returned her loving gaze for a moment that seemed to stretch for ages before turning to leave, skipping on every second step.

Red's words rung in her ears. You're entitled to a mother who will actually care for should have had one all your life…

But Nicky didn't have to worry about that any more, because now -and the words were sounding better every time she thought them- she had Red to lean on. She had Red to come to when she needed someone.

She had Red now. And Red had her.

And that was the absolute truth.