"Hey, I've got the best news ever! The immigration guy actually believed Weevil and me, that we were an item, and he expects us to be living together as husband and wife in six months!" Karla squeals as she opens her lunch. "It's doable."

This brightens up Blanca's spirits a little. "Yay! I'm so happy for you!" She hugs Karla and scoots close to her. Everyone claps and cheers for the older girl.

"Damn, that's great!" Diablo comments.

"You could totally pull that off!" Flaca says cheerfully, resting her elbow on Maritza's shoulder.

"Congratulations!" Shani chimes in. She shares a dreamy look with Nicky. "I wish we were old enough to get married."

"We can do that with Red's permission," Nicky informs her.

"Y'all wouldn't even have to fake your love," Taystee points out.

"The problem is...it's illegal in New York for same-sex couples to tie the knot. You'd have to move to Canada to do it," Karla tells them sadly. Shani and Nicky groan together.

"Yo, that sucks, we would, too!" Maritza exclaims, hitting Flaca's arm lightly. She kisses her taller girlfriend on the cheek and then their lips touch.

"Whenever we're ready, we'd need to go there as well," Alex says.

Michelle gazes up at her with love. "I know..."

"Why is this even a law?" Poussey grumbles. "It's so unfair!"

"Homophobic, too," Franziska puts in.

"It could change," Daya says optimistically. "Interracial couples weren't allowed to marry until nineteen-sixty-seven, but now they are! The world is growing and developing as years pass us by."

Adarsh strokes her hair and grins at her. "That's true."

"Where do you think we'll be in a decade?" Vinnie asks.

"Hopefully hitched!" Lorna answers him brightly with a giggle. "Also, a mother. I ain't gonna work, I gotta take care of Frankie, Donovan, and the twins...I'm talkin' hypothetically."

"A housewife? I thought you wanted to be a fashion designer," Alex murmurs.

Lorna scowls. "Don't say it like it's a bad thing! It really depends...it's a long ways away."

"You still got time to think about it," Flaca agrees.

"Damn right. Hey, a comic book artist is in the cards for me!" Daya announces.

"You'd be so good at that!" Adarsh compliments her, and the others merrily agree.

Daya groans. "God, my lower back hurts..."

"On it," Adarsh says as he starts to massage the area.

"Thank you so much, babe!"

"You're welcome, darling!"

As her friends continue talking about their future plans, Blanca's scared of what's in store for her. She cannot go to juvy; it'll destroy her, and Diablo would never look at her the same way again.


"Guess what, Diane?" Benny asks her excitedly at Friendly's.

"'Sup, little man?"

"I'm the smallest in my classroom, but I pack a punch like Lorna! I'm really tough! Raaaah!" He makes his little hands into claws and growls at Diane playfully.

"Oh, no! Don't get me!" She reaches down and tickles him and he starts giggling.

"Yay, you defeated the monster!" Julio congratulates her while jumping around in circles.

"I sure did!" Diane chucks his chin and then pokes Benny's nose. "I'm betting you guys want ice cream sundaes?"

"Yeaaaaaah!" they chorus.

"So, can you cover my shift?" Brenda asks Diane. "I did that for you this afternoon."

Diane rolls her eyes. "Sure, like always. Thank you for doing me one favor, but it's nothin' against the thousands of times I've worked when you were supposed to be here!"

Leon, Fahri, RJ, and the women's jaws drop. The boys look at Diane in shock because she's not talking sweetly like she had been before.

"Wow, what crawled up your ass and died?" Brenda shakes her head and leaves.

"I'm sorry, guys," Diane apologizes. "She's like, barely here...and she was never around when I was getting harassed every night, so...it's fudgin' annoying!"

"Oh, that sucks," Margarita tells her sympathetically. Aleida and Gloria nod in concurrence.

"You don't gotta explain yourself, sista, we feel ya," Gloria mutters.

"I know, she a bitch," Aleida grumbles.

"Mm-hm," Diane murmurs.

The doors swing open again, but to let a few people in this time. "Now what is this somethin' I gotta see?" Taystee asks as she walks behind Poussey and Nicky. They give her a moment to figure it out and then once her eyes land on RJ, she gapes and staggers back a bit. She looks completely shocked. "Oh my god! Holy shit, is that you, RJ? For real?" Tears swim in both of their eyes.

"Yeah, sis. It's me." RJ grins at her and then they embrace tightly. After clapping each other on the back a few times, they separate. "I met Nicky at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting! I couldn't see you until Vee was gone, but now I finally can!"

"Bro, you got no idea how much I missed you!" Taystee murmurs. "So, what you been up to?"

RJ shrugs shyly. "Since bein' outta that nasty-ass buisness, I got a girl...ladies, this is Margarita!" He gestures to her.

"Hey," the girls greet her together with pleasant, genuine smiles.

"It's nice meeting you!" Margarita says, shaking each of their hands.

"Aw, I love a cute sibling reunion!" Diane gushes. "I only wish my brother and I were that lucky..."

"Me, too," Gloria tells her with a supportive hand on her back. "I'm sorry it didn't turn out that way."

"Same here!" Aleida chimes in, linking arms with Diane.


It's the first night that Fahri invites Gloria over for dinner alone. The boys are at a slumber party with Michael and Dylan while Michaela is at Christina's house for a sleepover. She rings his doorbell and he opens up almost right away. Soft, romantic music is playing, a lovely bouquet of yellow roses in a purple vase is a centerpiece on the kitchen table, and candles adorn it.

"Hi, sweetheart!" he greets her pleasantly. "You look really pretty! I adore that color red on you, wow!"

"Hey, babe, ¡gracias! It's a new dress, and I also got my nails done, courtesy of Aleida...she made sure they were red with gold sparkles. I really like your suit and slacks, very elegant and suave. Mmm..." she sighs when he leans down, cups her chin in his hand, and gives her a tender kiss on her lips. She holds up the bag she'd brought with her as they separate. My Prince Charming... "I have sparkling wine. I wasn't sure if you had any, but I wanted to surprise you..."

"Perfect, I'm out, thank you! You really didn't have to."

"Nah, it's cool, I wanted to bring something. Besides...it's mine, it's literally got my name on it, and I'm nice enough to share," she says, trying not to giggle as she shows him the bottle of Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine.

"Ha! You clever lady!" Fahri caresses her hair and takes her hand as they go into the kitchen. They nuzzle noses as she puts the wine down on his counter.

"Well! Nothin' like candles, flowers, and lovey-dovey tunes to set the mood!" she says, suddenly feeling amorous.

"We'll dance later, while the food is in the oven, I promise."

"Okay," she murmurs through a giggle.

She half wants him to lift her up and sit her beside it while they make out heavily, but it may be too early still for that much passion. Yet, she yearns for it, she craves his touch inside of her on lonely nights, but she's only ready in theory. Her vibrator will have to do for now; she just imagines it as Fahri's hand or his cock. Suddenly, she wants to see his bare and hopefully, hairy, chest. She feels like lifting his shirt over his head and running her hands down his pecs, threading her fingers through the tiny hairs, sucking on his nipples, and then she'd unzip his pants. He'd make her come undone, giving her beard burns everywhere and the best orgasms galore. Visions of them in the most lustful positions flash through her brain and her lower region tingles slightly.

Fuck me...he's so lean...probably great in bed, too...daaay-um! Yum. Yummy.

Gloria stops herself from admiring his physique right away. She can't let her mind wander there. The honeymoon stage always makes people's sexual desires go wild. Grabbing his butt while he's turned around and getting something out of the cabinet above the stove is out of the question, too. So, she just stares at his handsome figure while leaning back against the counter and biting her bottom lip. She switches back and forth between chewing and licking it. She quickly swallows when he faces her and sets down two wine glasses.

"You alright, darling?" Fahri checks in with her. "You look a little...flushed."

"Oh!" She gulps again. "Um, I'm okay. Just...parched. You know...the cold weather and all. Dryness."

"Sorry, I was about to get you some water." He quickly gets out his red Brita, pours her some in a cup, and hands it to her with a broad smile. Gloria beams back at him and tucks a short lock of hair around her ear, but decides to fluff it back out. She takes a few sips and tries to relax.

"Thank you!"

"No prob."

Gloria helps him make chicken and cheese enchiladas with a side of rice and beans. Then, he puts the concoction in a baking pan and slides it into the oven with his oven mitts on. While he's doing that, she's opening the bottle of sparkling wine and serving them both a glass. She holds one of them up. "Hey...cheers!"

Fahri taps his to hers and they both take a drink of their alcohol. "Cheers!" he echoes. "To domestic life and bliss."

She presses her lips together and just gazes up at him adoringly. "To be perfectly honest with you...this is the most stable relationship I've ever been in so far. I know we ain't lasted long yet, but it sorta helps that we been friends for two months before we kissed!"

He nods. "I'm not really looking for anyone else to date...I didn't even go out with other people when you and I were getting closer with each passing day. I swear...we were chillin' together so much that it felt like we were seeing each other already!"

Gloria tries not to gape at him. "I...I kinda figured that, but you coulda...explored your options, I bet there were millions of women and men out there that aren't traumatized by somethin'...you'd be married to 'em around now. Probably."

"Yeah, I know, but..." Fahri grins while shrugging. "I tagged you, you're it." She starts laughing. "No, really! I always knew you were special, from the moment we had our first conversation. I know your dark past will always be a part of you, but that doesn't bother me in the least. I'm not the kind of dude that moves fast."

"Oh, good, 'cause that scares me!"

"I would never want to frighten you." They make out while holding their glasses of wine. "Hey, is it cool if I-"

"Shut the fuck up and keep going," Gloria whispers as he peppers her with soft kisses from the corner of her mouth, all the way down to her neck, almost her shoulder. If he gets to the strap of her dress and runs his finger under it, she'll surely lose all control. She's so deep in the moment that she trips over her own two feet without even realizing it. She squeaks and he catches her, but not before she spills some of her drink on his shirt. "Fuck, I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright-"

"Por favor, forgive me, lo siento..." She puts her wine glass back on the counter and starts dabbing the spot with a towel. There's no stain, but this has to be uncomfortable.

"I can change! I'm really okay, Gloria, this will just need to go into the laundry," Fahri assures her in a compassionate, sure voice. There's no evidence of anger on his features. "Honestly, it's just wet and maybe will be sticky. Even if you completely ruined it, well, I'd be pissed at the situation, but I'd never do anything horrible to you, because it would've been an accident. Besides, this is my fault...I kissed down your jaw and to your neck..."

"That's a sensitive area for me...I'm not accustomed to anyone being so gentle there."

He hangs his head. "I'm sorry, I tried to ask you for permission, but you stopped me."

"I was really enjoying it, I'll push you away if I'm not. Touching your lips to every inch of me is like...every woman's dream. It makes us feel special." Gloria beams at him. "That's always a must."

"I'll do it all the time, then!" He starts unbuttoning his top until she can see his chest hair and then she draws in a sharp gasp of surprise. "I know, right...I've got way better abs and guns than any movie star out there." They chuckle in unison.

"I'm sure you do." She would be perfectly fine with him engulfing her in his muscly, naked arms. She wants to see how it feels to be held gently and have their bare skin touching. She has to look away before she starts salivating. She clears her throat in order to stay focused on the matter at hand, but she can't stop her brain from telling her mouth to spit out the following request. "Yo, lemme see more of the man I love. Please?"

"Don't you think it's too soon?" He blushes.

Gloria shakes her head no as her face burns. "I'm in a flirtatious mood tonight, and this ain't gonna turn into us getting laid, anyway. Only cuddling, if you're up for that."

"Of course I am, baby!"

She helps him undo each button; she does it slowly and steadily with sparks shooting through her each time their fingers touch and more of his sexy chest is revealed. By the time he's shrugging out of it, she's speechless. He's standing before her and she can see his lithe upper body rippling under his shirt, which resembles waves upon the sea; powerful, yet gentle and compelling to the eye.

"Thank you, sweetie. Know what, I can just get this out using dish soap and hot water. It's not that huge of a mark."

Gloria watches the veins in his arms and the muscles in his back move as he scrubs at the problematic area. She loves how masculine he looks and how kindhearted he is inside. Her gaze lingers on him. "God damn, you're good," she blurts out, but covers her lips slightly.

"I'm just manually cleaning my shirt...it's easy!"

"No, I know, but...like, in general, you're a good man, it was a random thought that came to my head."

Fahri looks over his shoulder at her, beaming. "I always want to please my princess."

"Your..." Gloria lets out a girlish giggle as her heart lifts. "Wow, that's cute. You really know how to make me swoon."

"Same goes for you! I can't take my eyes off you, either, and I love when you're in my arms."

"I enjoy being in them."

When he's finished, he wrings out his shirt and hangs it over his shower curtain rod to dry. She follows him and hugs him from behind and he squeezes her hands that are resting on his bare stomach. It feels so good.

"I'll give you a back rub, I know that's what you're expecting," Gloria mumbles. She's testing her new boyfriend to see if he'll demand one like Arturo used to do, whether she offered it or not. Consequences were dire if she didn't.

"Oh, that's not what I was thinking at all. Feel free, though!" he says with a laugh.

So, she does. She doesn't think it's nice to offer something pleasant one minute and take it back the next. While she massages every part of his back, pressing her fingers, thumbs, and palms into his skin, he hums with satisfaction. Pretty soon, they're both moaning with excitement as they lay together horizontally and cuddle on his couch while connecting their lips over and over and holding each other's faces, the yearning desire between them exploding-along with Gloria's ovaries.


"So...Piscatella was P.C.?" Flaca asks disgustedly.

"The same asshole who put bees in my mom's car?" Alex wants to know. She and Piper's other friends are all in Maria's room, which is painted light pink with matching curtains with a purple floral pattern. They reread the text that Maria had shown them. Don't forget bitch, if you want to win this game and prove to me that you're valuable, torture those cunts until their last breaths. Or watch me take away your life. -P.C.

"Yep," Maria says slowly. "My roommate Beth was gonna help me sneak out of the mental hospital, but Piscatella did it instead, trying to get me on his side and join forces. I'd only truly hated Piper, nobody else! I was being threatened, that's why I tormented you. I really am sorry."

"I know," Lorna murmurs with a vigorous nod.

"I'm glad you helped Flaca, Lorna, and the others get out of that house of horrors," Daya chimes in. "You didn't let me down this time. I suppose I'm ready to forgive you, at least for what you did to us in the past."

"It was hella sweet of you," Flaca adds. "Even though you did a lot of damage before...I guess we could turn over a new leaf."

Alex folds her arms across her chest, still appearing to be doubtful. "I'm continuing to think you did it for your own gain, to rescue yourself from Piscatella and co's clutches, but thank you."

"Well, one time, I thought this bird had a broken wing, but it flew away suddenly. That's how I know we're all gonna be okay," Maria tells them gently. They smile at her. "Yo Daya, por favor...don't sell your baby to this Greenwich, Connecticut rich white bitch!"

Alex huffs. "You're actually thinking about doin' that shit?"

"You know that's your rapist's mother, right?" Flaca asks, horrified.

"I know, my ma told me that, too..." Daya sighs. "I've still got like, six months to think about it. Adarsh said he'd help me with my kid and so did my family, but...what if they get sick of all the responsibilities?"

"I don't assume they would...she or he will just be another addition to your household. Everyone knows it takes a village to raise a child, they'd understand that!" Lorna soothes her. "They're well aware that you can't do it all on your own. They love you, they're not gonna give up, not even Adarsh. Be positive about this, or you'll jinx the situation!"

"Okay, Charlotte," Daya says jokingly, referring to one of the women on Sex and the City. "I'm just trying to be realistic and not expecting too much so I ain't heartbroken later. I don't wanna be that kinda mom who gives up on her baby, but...it's only an option if I'm desperate."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Maria says and the others nod their heads in agreement.

"Hey, guess what I've been binge-watching?" Lorna leans into the group and grins brightly. "Sex and the City reruns! It's over now, I'm finally old enough...and can I just say, Daya, that it's a compliment that you called me by my favorite character's name? I totally relate to her!" She giggles. "I like her with Trey...how they met was so romantic!" Lorna sighs while putting her hand to her heart.

Alex raises an eyebrow at her. "Just wait."

"Why?"

"You'll see, Lorna. Anyway, I love Miranda, and I'm a lot like her, too," Alex murmurs with a smirk. "I've seen the show with my mom before and we're caught up. The lady should've been bi, she really gave off that vibe. In fact, she was my television lesbian awakening! Samantha, too. They were boss-ass-bitches."

"Oh yeah, Cynthia Nixon is awesome, like a total babe!" Flaca states. "We just hate how the characters discuss bisexual people, lesbians, and folks of color, but some of the shit's getting a bit outdated. It's mostly good! We can ignore the bad parts of it, there's very few."

"Yo, that's the whitest program ever, though," Maria complains. She gestures to Daya and Flaca. "You two are coconuts."

Daya rolls her eyes. "Get over it."

Maria puts her hands up in surrender. "Hey. I'm just sayin'..."

"Oh..." Lorna waves off her comment. "Don't be so cynical. Let's talk about our boyfriends, that's one thing we both have in common, along with Daya! How'd you meet him?"

That gets a smile out of Maria. "He was outside of the school and just hanging around like Nicky had been, he's seventeen...probably why my dad didn't like him, but whatever, he just hates Mexicans in general." She exhales loudly. "Tell me about your Vinnie."

Lorna giggles. "He has older friends, which I find admirable. Paulie is almost twenty, they drink bourbon and beer, and he's going to be a dental hygienist when he grows up like you. Vinnie's buddy, I mean."

Maria nods slowly. "Interesting!"

"Yep! He grew up with Vinnie from down the street. Then my man's got Greggy, who has weird eyes...Paulie gets agitated if you eat a caramel or taffy. Vinnie likes caramels, and I once freaked out at him and Francine, my sister, both liking those, but I shouldn't have, since it's common! His favorites are candy corn pumpkin caramels." Lorna's beaming with delight. "Daya?"

"Eh?" She's halfway through a bag of Hot Cheetos.

"Lorna's hosting a straight girls convention," Flaca points out. She purses her lips. "Entertain us with the story of how Adarsh came into your life."

"Correction, I'm not straight! I was with Nicky, remember? I bleed pink, blue, and purple, not just blue. I happen to prefer guys a little more than gals, that's all."

"I'm sayin' like, you're interviewing 'em. Not like you're one of 'em. You're more like the leader," Flaca clarifies.

Daya swallows her food after chewing it. "Okay, uh, I bet Maria knows already, and I think I told everyone else...but we just saw each other for the first time when I was in the hospital. He was shadowing his mom, who's a nurse. I was a patient. He couldn't take his eyes off me once, even when she called him over."

"Damn, he is so the Steve to your Miranda," Alex comments.

"Let's hope we're as sexy together under the sheets as they are," Daya states, blushing. "We've already got the friendship and romance part down!"

"Whoo-hoo!" Lorna cheers and the others join in.

Maria grows quiet for a minute, but then she speaks. "Blanca and I start picking up trash along the highway on Monday. Since Ouija, Pidge, and Zirconia actually branded Piper, they were arrested today. I feel bad...as shitty as they are, I deserved to go down for this harder than I did. I should never have gotten Blanquita involved. I apologized to her so many times, but she can't even look at me."

"I don't blame her. It's gonna take us a few years to forgive you both," Alex states.

"I understand you two were comin' from a place of pain, that's why we're being softer on you and Blanca...and Piper led a white power group! By accident, but still..." Flaca shakes her head. "That was pretty rotten of her."

"She had it comin'," Lorna mutters.

"Well, yeah, but they didn't need to stoop down to her level," Daya mumbles.

"You're right," Maria says.


"Fahri...I gotta tell you somethin'."

"Hm? What is it?" He gazes at her fondly and strokes her cheek with his slightly calloused thumb. It really turns her on. They're both sitting up and he's looking for something to watch on television.

Gloria scoots closer to him and braces herself for what she's about to say. She takes in a shaky inhale and begins to speak. "He tortured me...Arturo...in all different ways, but one of the biggest things he'd do was hide in different parts of the apartment and scare me half to death since I never knew where he was...for example, he'd call me from wherever he was lurking and say he's somewhere outside and tell me...he'd lure me to him, actually, like completely lie and say he had presents for my babies that he was keeping a secret from them. When I walked out of the house, he'd catch me by complete surprise and I was always panicking. I wasn't prepared for his sneak attacks..." She sniffles and clutches his arm. He seems to sense that she needs him more than ever now and she loves that he's holding her so protectively. "It was a game to him, the tormenting..."

His kind eyes are immediately filled with sympathy and sadness. "I'm so sorry, Glo! What an asshole, that sounds terrifying for you! I'd shoot his brains out if he wasn't in Hell already." Fahri caresses her hair and kisses her temple. "You don't deserve to be treated poorly. I apologize deeply that you were put through so much pain in the past."

"I know, but...this has traumatized me so badly, that...not to sound like somebody's motha...but as long as we're a couple, I need to know where exactly you are if you're in the house. Is-is that okay?"

He nods and cups her chin while pecking her cheek and then her lips. It drives her absolutely wild. "Of course, sweet girl. I'll make you feel safe for as long as I'm alive."

She beams at him. "You're the best man in my life, treating me good and all that. Lo siento for all the burdens I place upon your shoulders..."

"You haven't done anything you need to apologize for, it's okay," he reassures her. "I'm so blessed to have you as my woman!"

I don't want to go another day
So I'm telling you, exactly what is on my mind
Seems as like everybody is breaking up
And throwing their love away
But I know I got a good thing right here,
That's why I say (hey)...

Grinning, he gets to his feet and extends his hand out to her when Stickwitu by the Pussycat Dolls begins playing. "May I have this dance?"

Nobody gonna love me better, I'm gon' stick wit you forever
Nobody gonna take me higher, I'm gon' stick wit you
You know how to appreciate me, I'm gon' stick wit you, my baby
Nobody ever made me feel this way, I'ma stick wit you...

"Mm-hm," she answers through a giggle as she lets him help her off the couch. They sway together to the beautiful, slow tune. "I love this song!"

"Me, too!"

I don't want to go another day
So I'm telling you, exactly what is on my mind
See the way we ride, in our private lives
Ain't nobody gettin' in between
I want you to know that, you're the only one for me

"My god, you're exquisite," he whispers as he pulls her close. She enjoys bathing in all of his compliments directed at her. Gloria hums and closes her eyes as she rests against him and winds her arms around his waist. He continues holding her securely, one hand gently massaging the crown of her head and the other caressing her back.

"Gracias, you are too!" she tells him as the chorus plays.

"Thank you, honey!"

Nobody gonna love me better, I'm gon' stick wit you forever
Nobody gonna take me higher, I'm gon' stick wit you
You know how to appreciate me, I'm gon' stick wit you, my baby
Nobody ever made me feel this way, I'ma stick wit you

"I dunno where this incredible amount of confidence that I now have came from...I...I guess because the monster has been thrown into the flaming pits of Hell, I can be myself!" Gloria exclaims.

"Yeah! I'm so relieved that things are so much better than they were before."

"I used to always pick the wrong guys, but you...actually, nah, the girls chose you for me..." she mumbles, and they chuckle in unison.

"Gloria, you decided to stay with me and pursue a relationship," he reminds her, and she smiles. "We fell for each other! Hard, I may add."

"We sure did!"

And now, ain't nothing else I can need
And now, I'm singing 'cause your so, so into me
I got you, we'll be making love endlessly
I'm with you, baby you're with me

"I can't stop looking at you, Glo, you're absolutely mesmerizing..." Fahri is staring into her eyes and brushing his knuckles up and down her cheek.

"I take so much solace in knowing that's how you feel about me," she breathes out.

"Mmm, baby..." he murmurs just before kissing her deeply, over and over again. "We'd dance in the moonlight, but it's too cold out right now!"

Gloria beams, beside herself with joy. "Maybe in the summer when we get warm evenings!"

So don't ya worry about
People hanging around
They ain't bring us down
I know you, and you know me
And that's all that counts
So don't ya worry about
People hanging around
They ain't bring us down
I know you, and you know me
And that's why, that's why I say

Nobody gonna love me better, I'm gon' stick wit you forever
Nobody gonna take me higher, I'm gon' stick wit you
You know how to appreciate me, I'm gon' stick wit you, my baby
Nobody ever made me feel this way, I'ma stick wit you

At the end of the song, Fahri dips her and she explodes into raucous laughter. Gloria has felt free ever since Arturo and his cronies died in the fire, but tonight, it's like she's on top of the world. He bends down to kiss her, and then she knows.

She has a man who loves her unconditionally-for now, at least. She wants to stay in the moment and just have fun.


"Yummy, such a delicious casserole, Red! I thank you again for the lovely meal," Lorna tells her as she washes the dishes and the girls take turns drying them and putting them where they belong.

"You're welcome, dear, but I can't take all the credit, Anita gave me the recipe."

"Oh, that lady who Lorna took care of when she was a candy striper? Last name, DeMarco?" Nicky wants to know.

Red nods. "That's her, all right."

"Aw, that's nice! She reminds me of my mother. It's nice having an older Italian woman to look up to," Lorna says.

"Have you spoken to her or Rosa lately?" Nicky asks.

"Yeah, whenever I visit them at the hospital...in fact, I did last week!"

"Cool!" Nicky comments. "So, yeah, Red, I wanted to say that I appreciated what you cooked for us. I always do."

Red beams at Nicky and strokes her hair back from her forehead. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"This lady Anita just wrote the recipe, but you put hard work and love into the dinner...of course it was scrumptious!" Shani comments.

"That's what I like to hear!"

"Mouthwatering. Raaaahvishing," Tricia chimes in with a fake English accent. "Really, though, I thought I died and went to heaven. Your food is the best, Ma."

Red has fun bathing in all of their compliments. "Thank you, Tricia!"

"Hey, Nick Fuck Bang!" Tricia shouts with a giggle. Shani and Lorna both cover their mouths to stifle laughter.

Nicky kicks her younger sister's butt and falls down, cracking up, but she hasn't hurt any part of her body. She's just laying there on the floor and cackling hysterically while pounding her fists on the tile until Shani helps her up. Red shakes her head at her antics. "Oh, really, Trish?" Nicky does her best to glare at the other blonde. "Remember when Danita attempted your cornrows and you resembled Ursula for a few weeks and even Cindy couldn't fix it when she babysat you?" she asks teasingly.

"Shove it up your pie hole!" Nicky smirks and then Tricia flips her the bird.

"Girls..." Red starts to scold them, but she can't help but send an amused smile their way. She loves their sisterly moments, even when they're exchanging embarrassing stories and dumb nicknames. She tears up at how much they've progressed over the past few months, from not even wanting to be associated with her, to being completely comfortable with her as their mother. "Oh my daughters, come here." She wraps them both into a hug and they return her embrace. Shani and Lorna look on happily. "I'm so proud of you..."

"Aww, Ma, that means a lot," Nicky mumbles.

"Yeah, it does," Tricia agrees.

Suddenly, a small rodent scuttles into the kitchen and the three of them break apart and begin screaming, along with Shani. Red takes a protective stance in front of her children and Shani. She grabs a broom, prepared to whack the tiny animal with it. Melanie arches her back and hisses at the rat, her claws extended as she prepares to strike. "Oh, relax, you're scaring him!" Lorna picks it up and runs her finger along its fur. "This is just one of the babies that Adeola's pet rat Andrea gave birth to recently! Another leftover, I suppose, is what she'd say! Would you quit freakin' out?" Melanie clutches onto Lorna's leg and meows a few times. "No beggin'!"

"Your lab partner?" Shani asks warily, clutching Nicky's arm as Red looks over her shoulder at the couple. They're breathing shakily, as is Tricia.

Lorna nods as they disperse. The cat skitters away, bored. "Mm-hm. He must have gotten loose."

"From...where?" Nicky wants to know.

"Her house, I guess the poor thing walked quite a long ways!" Lorna frowns.

"How can that thing be a pet?" Tricia wonders aloud in disgust.

"Shh, you'll hurt his feelings, he doesn't wanna bite nobody!" Lorna reprimands her and walks off with it.

"I am not letting her keep that," Red mutters after a moment of silence.

Nicky sighs exasperatedly. "I'll make sure she calls Adeola to take it home." She pats Red's shoulder fondly and leans up to kiss her cheek. "Ma, you should go to bed, it's late and you're tired."

"Thank you for looking out for me, my girl." Red grins down at her and holds her face while pecking her forehead. "I will, don't worry." She hurriedly stifles a yawn with the back of her hand.

"Good!" Nicky says pleasantly. She also has a mischievous sparkle in her eye, which tells Red that she may get busy with Shani while Red is asleep, but that's not a big deal. They're both teenage girls and it's not like they can get pregnant from each other. Red doesn't even want to think about Nicky having sex; her child is so young, but she knows how she was at that age. The girls scamper upstairs as Red winds down on the couch with a book in hand. Melanie curls up next to her and she pets her cat.

The phone rings and as she jumps up to answer it, Melanie darts off her lap. "Hello?"

"Hey, Ma, it's me..."

She recognizes her middle son's voice right away. "Maxsim! How are you?"

"I just wanted to let you know that Franny Morello and I are making progress in our relationship, we're on a double date with Lida and Vasily."

"That's splendid! What are you all doing?"

"The movies, Vasily is driving us there. You and Pavel still hitting it off?"

"Yes." Red laughs gently. "He's a wonderful man."

"Uh, this is awkward, but Pops says he misses you."

Red glares at the phone. "I know he's your father, but that lazy bastard can go fuck himself. I tell ya, if any of you boys end up like him and make your wives do all the work around the house, I'll be very angry and disappointed. He's a bad example to follow."

"I know, Ma...you're the responsible one, so that's why I look up to you more."

"Good." Red smirks. "Have a pleasant evening, sweetheart. I love you."

"Love you, too!" The line clicks and she knows he's hung up.