After staying in bed for sometime Franky and Bridget took a shower and got ready to go for dinner. Franky had become quiet again. Bridget was trying to give her some space. This day had been overwhelming for Franky and combined with the events of last few weeks it is bound to have an effect. Bridget knew she was uncomfortable about meeting Helen and Nikki and living with them. She honestly thought it will be better for Franky otherwise she would never push Franky into anything she was uncomfortable with.

As they were getting ready to leave, Franky collected her belongings which were not much to begin with and headed for the door. " I can take you shopping tomorrow if you would like ?" Franky just whispered " hmm. Bridget placed a hand on Franky's forearm and stepped towards her. She waited for Franky to look at her and then said
"Hey its going to be ok." Franky just nodded. " Talk to me please"

" Its nothing, I am just...its just..." Franky let out a deep sigh. " I am used to doing things on my own ever since I was 16 years old. And inside it was the same."

Bridget understood what Franky was trying to tell her "I know. I understand "

" I get why you did what you did, and I will try for sure but I don't know ..."

"It's ok I get it. If you are uncomfortable we will figure something else out."

" Ok"

Bridget gave Franky a long assuring kiss and they left for dinner.

The ride was quiet and short.

Bridget gave Franky a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand before ringing the doorbell.

Helen opened the door and greeted them.

" Hey Bridget" She gave a quick kiss to Bridget's cheek.

" Hi Helen. Meet Franky"

"Hi Franky. Heard a lot about you from Bridget. How are you ?"

" Hi Nice to meet you" Franky replied

"Come on in you two"

They went into the living room greeting Nikki and sat down with drinks.

" I made italian for dinner, hope you like that Franky" Helen asked

" Ya, I do"

" Helen is also in correctional as I told you earlier. She focuses on tutoring inmates and helping them with their education." Bridget inserted.

" And I am a writer" Nikki said

"Oh really anything I might have read ?" Franky asked interested

" Not sure I usually write fiction which is published in UK but not really popular here. Helen and I are from UK. We moved here 5 years ago."

Franky nodded. She liked Helen and Nikki. She was glad they didn't mention Wentworth and her parole. She didn't want to talk about how it felt to be out with people she hardly knew though at some point she will have to.
"Dinner's ready" Helen came over from the kitchen.

They sat down for dinner with general conversation. Helen and Nikki were trying to get Franky to talk. Franky was being polite participating but Bridget noticed that she was still uncomfortable and was not her usual cheery self. Bridget wondered if she had actually made a mistake in forcing Franky to do something she didn't want to do. As they were clearing up Helen and Nikki gave each other a look.

"Bridget why don't you help me with the clean up in the kitchen" Helen asked. Bridget looked a little bit unsure about leaving Franky alone but Nikki interjected " Yeah go on, Franky and I can just grab a beer outside. What do you say Franky"

" Sure"

Bridget reluctantly left Franky and Nikki alone and followed Helen to the kitchen.

Outside:

Nikki grabbed a couple of beers and motioned Franky to step out onto the terrace. They took a few sips of their beer just staring at the lights from the city.

" I like staring at the city lights in the night. It gives me a sense of calm" Nikki started.

Franky just nodded " Looks nice"

"Did Bridget tell you how Helen and I met"

Franky shook her head

"Helen was the governor of the prison I was incarcerated at in London"

Franky started coughing on the beer she just drank " No shit. Really ?"

"Yup"

" You were in prison ? What for ?"

"I killled a police officer who was trying to rape my girlfriend at the time. They didn't believe me and gave me life in prison. I met Nikki when she became the governor of the prison. She helped me with my courses and took a special interest in me. I think I fell for her the first time I met her but it was tough for us being in the position we were in. It was Nikki who helped me get out of there. She worked really hard to get my appeal approved. I am out thanks to her otherwise I would still be doing life in prison"

Franky looked shocked at what Nikki has just told her and she couldn't help but notice the similarities between helen/nikki and her and Bridget. " I am sorry Nikki. I am glad you got through it"

"You got through it too"

"Yeah...yeah I did"

"It was hard for me when I got out initially. Adjusting to life outside. I moved in with Helen right after I got out but it wasn't a smooth sailing. She wanted to help me with everything and I was used to doing things my own way. It's not that I didn't appreciate her but sometimes it was too much. I wanted to find my way in life on my own and not just be what I was expected to be. Prison changed me and it took me a minute to realise who I was outside."

Franky was listening intently and it felt like someone was sort of giving voice to her own thoughts " I know what you mean". She responded. "How did you deal with it ?"

" I took it one day at a time. Started going for runs to clear my head at the start of the day. Spent some time alone as well just trying to think through what I wanted to do. I wanted to do it all alone and I know I hurt Helen sometimes by being aloof. But her support meant everything to me. She helped me in any way she could even if it meant leaving me alone to figure things out on my own. I understand how you feel about taking help from others but Franky sometimes its ok to take help. Its people who care about you and want to see you succeed. They dont want anything in return, they just want to see you happy."

"Ya I know"

"Take it one day at a time kiddo. You will be ok"

"I don't want to hurt Bridget but I need to be able to do this on my own. And not depend on her for everything. I want to be with her, don't get me wrong, I so badly want to be with her but I don't want to depend on her for everything"

"I understand and I agree with you. You need to do this for you, not for Bridget or for anyone else. You need to do this for you"

After a minute Franky spoke " Thanks Nikki". Nikki knew what she meant from the sincerity in her voice.

"You will be ok kiddo. So what do you like to do for fun ?"

"Really ?"

"Hey just asking. Look Helen is the strict one and as your parolee's she is gonna give you a strict lecture about do's and don'ts etc etc pretty soon. Trust me. I will leave that to her. You can do the fun things with me"

Franky laughed at that " So you got the bad cop/good cop routine down ?"

"Yes but don't tell Helen I told you that"

"Ok"

"So seriously what do you like to do for fun ?"

"Haven't had fun in a while but I guess I like to read, workout, into sports"

"That's cool. We can find a workout place for you nearby if you would like"

"That would be great"

"Sure anything else you need ?"

"I kinda do need to go shopping and Bridget offered to take me tomorrow but..."

"I can take you. You know writer's dont work much usually so I am usually not busy"

Franky smiled. She liked Nikki and I guess due to the similarities in their life she was opening up to her a little bit. She felt a lot more relaxed after talking to Nikki.

"Come on lets go back inside. They will think that we have run away on your first night here" Nikki added with a smile

Meanwhile Inside

"Hey you look a little tensed. Relax its gonna be fine" Helen reassured Bridget as they moved to the kitchen.

"I don't know. Its been hell of a day. Hell who am I kidding its been hell of a week"

"How did she handle being out of prison"

"It went well, I think. Better than expected. She was a little bit overwhelmed with everything but she was fine. We talked among other things" Bridget blushed a little at that.

"Oh I can imagine"

"She wasn't very happy about coming to live here"

"You knew it was going to be tough convincing her"

"I know but I was hoping that she will see this is in her best interest and will be ok with it. She is still not fully convinced and I promised her that if she doesnt want to, in a few days we will find some alternative arrangements"

"Hmm...don't worry we will make sure that she like it here"

"Thanks Helen, I don't know how to thank you and Nikki for doing this"

"Oh common its no big deal, we are happy to help and besides I like her. She seems like a good person"

"She is"

"Bridge you gotta give it time babe. Let her figure it out on her own. Don't try too much too fast"

"I know but its tough though. I had been waiting for this moment for a while and now that she is out I want to do everything I can to help her"

"I know but take it slow"

"I am trying"

"It will be ok"

"Common lets go back outside"

Bridget saw Franky and Nikki entering from the terrace as she walked into the living room. Franky was laughing at something Nikki said and she looked a little bit lighter.

"Helen, I am gonna go show Franky her room and get her settled in"

"Ok"

Nikki took Franky to a nice room on one end of the house." Here you go, its a little bit separated from the rest of the house so you will have a little bit of privacy. There is set of house keys on the table for your use. I know your parole has some conditions and Helen can go over those with you tomorrow. You can drop your stuff here and get settled in. I am going to leave you to it. Let me know if you need anything"

Franky dropped her stuff on the floor of the room and fell on the bed. The room was really nice. She felt much better after her talk with Nikki. One day at a time Franky , one day at a time. God was it just this morning that she got out of Wentworth. As she was lying there she heard footsteps approaching her room. And then she saw Bridget entering her room.

"Hey"

"Hey"

"You like you new digs ?"

Franky laughed and got off the bed. She went to Bridget and wrapped her arms around her waist.

"So far so good"

"Good I am glad"

"Helen and Nikki are great"

"Ya you think so"

"Yup"

"how did your talk go with Nikki"

"You didnt tell me how they met. Common Gidget were you inspired by them when you met me ?"

Bridget chuckled at that. "Yes exactly"

"Nikki is cool"

"Good"

"hey do you mind if I go shopping with Nikki instead tomorrow ?"

Franky saw a flash of hurt cross Bridget's face but it disappeared quickly

"No thats fine"

"Hey can we meet up after that though, don't think I can last long without you. I am kinda addicted to you" Franky flashed one of her smiles.

"After only one day" Bridget tilted her head

"Well the amount of time we spent in bed today would count for more than one day but yeah"

Franky captured Bridget lips in a long passionate kiss.

'I better go if we dont want helen and nikki to find us in that bed together"

"will that be so bad"

"Yes and you know it" Bridget placed another kiss on Franky's lips

"Call me once you are back tomorrow and we can plan to meet up"

"Ok Goodnight Bridget"

"Goodnight Franky"

Bridget walked back out to the living room saying her goodbye's to her friends. She pulled Nikki into a long hug and whispered "Thanks Nikki for talking to her"

"Ofcourse"

"Bye Bridge, drive safely"

After closing the door Helen turned to Nikki. "What did the two of you talk about ?"

"Oh no I am not telling you that"

"Hmm you keeping secrets from you wife"

"haha yes in this case I am"

"She is a good kid isnt she"

"Yes she is and I can see why Bridget fell for her"

"Yeah I know, I hope they are ok"

"They will be, common lets get to bed