'I was just wondering this one thing', mused Amita out loud to the other seven women lazily hanging around Lou's loft. It was the day after they had celebrated their completed heist and Claude Becker's downfall and the women felt their heads still banging from last night's party.

'Who was hanging upside down the ceiling to steal the jewels from the exhibition?'

Debbie smiled brightly at Amita.

'I love your timing, I was waiting for someone to ask that. There was someone else involved. She is coming by this afternoon'.

'Yeah it is noon already, you lazy guys slept half the day, so Maddie should be here soon', came Lou's voice from the kitchen.

Debbie hummed happily. Nineball just raised her eyebrows at Amita, who was this Maddie?

Lou could feel the anticipation of their heist group waiting for Maddie's arrival. She knew that Debbie was especially anxious to see Maddie after all this time. They did not have to wait long because just after their late breakfast/lunch, Maddie walked in. She looked very pretty and Lou suspected she had put the effort in, because she was seeing Debbie again for the first time since her release from prison. Her red curls bouncier than ever, her bangs nonchalantly falling on her forehead. She was wearing a breezy white short sleeved blouse and mom jeans. She looked great in it, but Lou knew she was wearing it to hide her many many bruises.

Debbie let out a very uncharacteristic squeal and leapt up to hug Maddie.

'Easy, Ocean', Maddie winced, softly prying out of the hug.

'O yes, how are you?'. Debbie did not wait for an answer and just lifted the blouse up revealing a very black and blue stomach. She hissed.

'It had to look bad, that was kind of the point', said Maddie.

'Jesus.' Debbie softly let her finger go over a bruised rib.

Lou stepped in. 'Kindly stop undressing Maddie in front of strangers, Deb, and introduce her to the gang.'

Debbie turned so she and Maddie were both facing the group, but still hold on to her. Lou loved how comfortable the two of them looked together.

'Maddie meet the gang, gang meet Maddie', said Debbie as Maddie gave a little wave.

'So, how do you two know each other?', asked Rose.

'Why do you look like a truck ran you over?', asked Constance at the same time.

Lou decided the easier of the two questions. 'Debbie and Maddie were bunkmates.'

'What, like in college?', came Constance. Everybody turned to look at her, their faces betraying how stupid they found that question. Maddie was obviously way younger than Debbie. Who also never attended a college.

'I'm guessing prison', said Tammy. And Debbie nodded.

'What were you in for?', asked Constance, her bluntness yet again earning her a look from the group.

'Well, I wasn't arrested for fraud which my asshole boyfriend committed, if that's what you're asking', came Maddie's light reply as she set herself at the table. 'Is there some food left?'

Debbie threw a napkin at Maddie in mock anger. Lou just snorted.

'That was not what I was asking', muttered Constance, but Tammy threw her a strict look, telling her to shut up and threw some leftover food on a plate to give to Maddie.

Almost six year earlier

'Your new bunkie is here, Stone', said officer Blazier, walking into the cell. Maddie lifted herself up on her elbows to look over the edge of her bed. Behind officer Blazier stood Debbie Ocean, holding her bedding and her hygiene kit. Maddie noticed that her new cellmate looked very pale and a little nervous. Maddie herself felt also nervous; in prison first impressions were very important. Her new cellmate was taller and older but that did not mean that she was going to let her boss her around. She gave Debbie Ocean a very nonchalant hi and then lied back down and pretended to read her book.

Blazier was talking Debbie Ocean through the basic rules of prison while Debbie made her bed. Maddie patiently waited until he was finished.

'Officer Blazier', Maddie started, when the prison guard started to walk away. 'Is Valentina feeling better yet?'

Blazier turned around facing Maddie, his eyes lighting up thinking about his daughter. 'She is better now, thank you.'

'That is good, children should not be in pain.' Maddie replied in a sweet voice. He gave her a friendly nod and left the cell.

'So what are you in for?', asked Debbie, she stood against the wall opposite the bunk beds. Maddie noticed her confidence striking up the conversation, as if she was the kind of woman who was usually liked. Maddie, however, was not impressed. Even though she was secretly glad that the other woman had started a conversation, she gave a dramatic sigh as put her book away.

'First time in prison then?', she said, unimpressed. She saw a flash of worry in Debbie's eyes and she felt sorry for her. First days in prison were the worst, to feel completely powerless. She imaged it must be even worse for Debbie, who was usually in complete control over the situation. Cozy as she was with the prison guards, she had been let known beforehand that her new cellmate was Debbie Ocean, a convicted con-artist. In the real world Debbie would have the advantage, but after four years inside, Maddie felt like she had the control in here. She was not going to abuse that power, but as one of the youngest in the prison she had learned to come acrossas someone not to be messed with. Once that message was clear, she could become friendlier with Debbie. Something she was looking forward to for she knew Debbie Ocean could teach her a lot.

'Okay newbie, this is the thing', she told Debbie. 'It is very rude to ask someone what they are in for. That is a private question.'

Debbie gave an understanding nod and Maddie was very impressed by her calm demeanor.

'You seem pretty cozy with the guards', noted Debbie. 'So I am assuming that you know what I am in for. That is not fair.'

Maddie sucked in some breath. Debbie had already taken notice of her relationship with the guards. She felt like she and Debbie Ocean were playing a game.

'Life is not fair, honey.', she answered.

Debbie gave a soft chuckle. 'Come on, you can do better than that cliché answer.'
Maddie felt like she was losing whatever game they were playing.

'I killed someone, Ocean.'

The smile quickly disappeared from Debbie's face. She just stared at Maddie. Maddie felt like she had won this round and picked up her book again, resuming her pretend reading.

It took Debbie thirty seconds to formulate her next sentence.

'So how long are you in here for still?'

'Five more years, so that means that for the most part of your six years, you get to spend it with my pleasant company', answered Maddie, not even looking up from her book.

They did not talk much again that night. Maddie felt like she should give Debbie some time to adjust to prison. Debbie was quiet because for the first time in a long time she was feeling out of her debt.

It was a few minutes before the cells closed down and Maddie was lying in her bed already, when their cell door was kicked open and three heavily tattooed women stormed into their room. One of them grabbed Debbie and shoved her against the wall, pushing a shiv against her cheek, one arm across her neck.

'Little birdie told us we got an Ocean in our presence', said the woman. 'But you are not going to be trouble to me like your brother was to my husband now, are we?'

She tugged Debbie's hair. 'Are we?'.

Debbie managed to shake her head and the woman let go of her. She spat at Debbie's face and turned to leave the cell. One of the other women gave Debbie one last punch in her stomach while the last one turned to Maddie.

'You saw nothing!'.

Maddie shook her head and raised her hands innocence. They all left the cell. Just a few seconds later the intercom told them it was lights out and the cell doors all clicked on lock.