TEN YEARS LATER

"Ahhh, another day, another Broadway musical." Flaca sighs happily as she and some of her friends rest on her and Maritza's fire escape outside their apartment.

"Not just any, because my girl Taystee made it and she's starring in almost every play there is!" Poussey states excitedly. "The nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Grace in Annie, Grizabella the Glamour Cat in Cats, Big Mama in Chicago, and so much more!"

"I know, she's a star, because of Miss Claudette financially supporting her and even providing her with an apartment!" Alison exclaims. "I'm proud to have gone to school with her."

"I'll say! It seems like a lot of her dreams came true. She also met D'Angelo sometime in college, thanks to Claudette's rich husband!" Poussey informs her.

"Lucky bitch. I feel like I should be Mimi in Rent," Maritza says, stretching, so her off-the-shoulder crop top reveals her diamond belly button ring that's shining in the afternoon sun.

"Same here!" Flaca giggles. "Ya know, but wedding planning and fashion designing is a lot of fun, too."

"Especially when you get to do your job with your girl!" Maritza twiddles her fingers with Flaca's and they flip their hair. "Heyyyy!"

"Shani and Nicky sang along to every song in Mamma Mia last night. It's a good thing they had enough fun, 'cause they both gotta work with Red today, up until Glo's bachelorette party." Poussey murmurs.

A baby wails from inside and Maritza groans as she gets up. "Ay dios mío, Juliana, Mamí's comin'...I swear to fuck, it's Darius' day and he was supposed to take her a few hours ago. His stupid ass basketball practice is takin' forever."

"I'll go with," Flaca volunteers and follows her wife through the open window. "Sweetie, at least your one-night stand dude is around for his daughter, which is a lot more than I can say for my own papí. He was never there, and he was with my ma for a while before they had me."

Maritza looks at her sympathetically. "Lo sé, mi amor. Darius does his best. He used to be totally incompetent, like conditioning before he shampooed and he still has trouble changing Juli's diaper, but it's good that he's tryin'. That lawyer I dated before him while you were off in la la land, Jason, he hung up on me when I called him once, he's terrible! My mom apologized profusely for setting us up."

They've drifted apart because nothing is exciting for them anymore and they no longer want the same things.

"So, you're just okay living a life of crime? All because you got no clue of what job you want?"

"Working at a pizza place is for losers!" Maritza insists.

"Well, what kind of vida would you lead behind bars?" Flaca shrieks. "I wanna own a sewing business and be successful..."

"You already are, with your dumb concerts that make you too busy for us, our life together! You should sell real drugs instead of fake ones! We'd make soooo much money!" Maritza insists, tugging on the front of Flaca's leather jacket.

"¡Basta de esto!" Flaca lightly shoves Maritza off her. "I wanna have fun, but not be in jail like some perdedora, pero si quieres, that's on you." With tears shining in her eyes, Flaca hoists her bag that's holding her guitar over her shoulder and opens the door. "I don't feel like you support me enough. That's it, I'm done..." she mumbles with one last look at Maritza.

Enough of this! loser, but if you want to

Maritza gazes after her sadly. "You're supposed to be my partner in crime..."

That's the final thing Flaca hears before slamming the door shut behind her and leaving Maritza in the past.

Guilt floods Flaca when she thinks about that time she was discovered in college during an open mic night and then dove deep into a singing career. She hadn't really forgotten about her high school band, Maritza, or any of their friends, but she didn't make much time for them, either. It caused Maritza to go into a downward spiral, steal a car, and jump into dozens of bad relationships for years-until last February at Blanca and Diablo's wedding, they'd finally realized that all they'd desired, was each other back. It was like the love between them had never faded and Flaca supported Maritza throughout her pregnancy and was there for the birth of her child. She was surprised Darius was involved as well, and she thanks her lucky stars that Maritza had picked her over him. "Lo siento mucho, querida," Flaca apologizes.

"It's okay. Sorry for not going to your concerts..."

"It ain't like I paid much attention to you there when you did go the first few times."

"I know we've had our struggles, but we made it here. All that counts, right? We're stronger than ever!"

Flaca nods. "Yeah, but I still feel bad. I let the fame get to my head and shit."

"Look at it this way. If not for you being a dumbass, I would've never had my little Julita. I love her so much!" Maritza plucks her tiny girl from her crib and snuggles her close. "Yes, I do! Yes!" she murmurs in a silly voice. She strokes Juliana's hair and kisses her cheek a few times. "Estás bien, mi amorcita...estoy aquí."

You're okay, mi little love, I'm here.

Flaca smiles and gently tickles Juliana's bare feet as her cries subside. "¡Es tan adorable, estoy muy felíz de ser su otra mamá! Cool, you named her after your mamí!"

She's so adorable, I'm really happy to be her other mom!

Maritza grins. "I know! I been thinkin' lately...I made the right choice, Blanca and Diablo as her godparents."

"You did! They were part of why we joined together again, too."

"Mm-hm." Maritza purses her lips. "Here I thought I'd be a trophy wife...but instead, I got you and a bouncing baby girl. I can't believe I didn't realize I was pregnant until I was seven months along 'cause of all the pot during that summer." She gasps. "Holy shit! I'm basically Miranda if she discovered she was into a woman more than Steve. Then we found each other at a huge, fancy event like Charlotte and Harry did...my life's been Sex and the City lately!"

Flaca chuckles. "We loved it so much, we lived it for a short time there!"

She leans into Flaca's embrace from behind as she looks down at her daughter with tenderness in her beautiful eyes, and then she turns around. "Sí, pero ahora...I'm on top of the world!"

"Hell yeah, Mari, I am too!" Above Juliana's small head, Flaca and Maritza share a soft kiss on the lips. "I love you, wifey."

"I love you more, wifey," Maritza says through a giggle. "I can't wait for la boda tomorrow!"

"Me neither! Hey, remember when we found that article where someone who looked like Piper was wearing a black wig and dressed all mysteriously? Then we saw her on that road trip, she was waitressing at Starbucks!"

Maritza nods. "She didn't wish to reconnect with any of you and she went back to her old ways and never learned her lesson at all."

Flaca rolls her eyes. "Yeah, I know, and when someone tried to kill her again, she was yelling for our help, but we threw her to the wolves! She only chose us because of my street smarts, Alex's loyalty, Daya's admiration, and Lorna's compassion! She used us for those qualities..."

Maritza giggles. "Toodles, bitch!"

"Exactamente!" They both laugh out loud and Flaca leans her head on Maritza's shoulder. She's glad that she, Lorna, Alex, and Daya are over the Stockholm Syndrome they had with Piper once and for all.


"It's about time you bitches got married!" Aleida is sunbathing on the stoop and leaning back on one hand while puffing on a cigarette with the other. Her nails are painted black with white tips. She dons a pair of black sunglasses, as do her two best friends. They're all in their floral summer dresses of different colors and large white hats. "Damn, after an entire decade!"

Gloria gazes down at her glittering gold diamond ring with a smile. "We figured that since it's been a whole ten years of a successful, stable relationship, that we needed to tie the knot! Also, it took him a while to get his MD, but he's finally a doctor and we're ready!" she exclaims. It helps, too, that the cartel Fahri was involved with, was tiny and everyone there was killed off or arrested in Turkey, banned from the United States, and never heard from again. Over the past decennium, Gloria and her sons had been healing from their trauma. She'd given him two years to screw up in the beginning and needed to pick apart each squabble they had. They are few and far in between and he never hits or talks down to her. She can trust him completely. By now, she knows that all couples have disagreements and the important thing is they cherish each other through everything. He was also busy putting himself through med school and marriage slipped both of their minds. He had been living with her, Benny, and Julio for so long-since two-thousand and nine-that it was like they were already husband and wife. It's now twenty-sixteen. Fahri is like a father to her kids, they act like a real family, and she'd preferred to wait until her children fully became accustomed to him hanging around. Benny and Julio, now teenagers, are okay with her and Fahri being together forever.

"Yeah, you've been an item for long enough!" Diane comments. She stands. "Ladies, shall we go? We'll be back in time to get all dolled up for your bachelorette party, Glo!"

They squeal in excitement and follow Diane to her green car. Just a few months back, the three of them had started a support group for teenagers and adults who had been in terrible situations such as child abuse, domestic violence, and rape. Gloria's tía Lourdes now teaches Spanish at Martin Van Buren High, so she doesn't run her counseling sessions as much anymore. She's still happily in love with Celeste and as soon as gay marriage became legal in New York five years ago, they-along with Shani and Nicky, Poussey and Franziska, Debbie and Nita, and Alex and Michelle, had all gotten hitched at different times. They still celebrate their anniversaries together, though.


Their bed shakes as Diablo kneels on it, taking Blanca from behind, thrusting. She moans loudly as she orgasms and then they both collapse on it, her wrapped in his loving embrace. They laugh in harmony and then Blanca snuggles into her husband of seven years. He'd dropped to one knee and proposed as soon as they graduated high school. Of course, she said yes right away, Karla was her dutiful maid of honor, Michaela her cute little flower girl, and her loyal bridesmaids were Flaca, Maritza, Shani, Nicky, and Lorna. She'd tossed the bouquet and Pennsatucky got it-after fighting three other unmarried women and girls. The short brunette and Nathan were wedded after Blanca and Diablo.

"Can't wait 'til I'm twenty-five..." she murmurs, grinning into his naked chest. Their bodies are flush against each other and their legs are tangled. She never wants to move from this spot. "A quarter-century-old!"

Diablo chuckles. "Oh, sí, princesa, I got somethin' really good planned!"

"You always do, I think you're the best boyfriend ever."

"Ah, my girl," he sighs, stroking her hair. "I just love spoiling the shit outta you!"

Blanca giggles. "¡Lo sé! You treat me right, you give me the greatest sex ever...can ya believe it? Diez años, mi amor. We've been a thing longer than any other couple we're truly close to. Not much problemas between us o nada."

Diablo kisses first her jaw, then her cheek, and finally, captures her lips between his. "Tienes razón, mi hermosa paloma," he says in the middle of their steamy kiss. His mouth tickles hers as he speaks and he gives her a beard burn, but she doesn't care. "Te amo mucho."

You're right, my beautiful dove.

"Te amo mucho también." She beams while squeezing his bicep and imagining the hand that's marked with three sixes, going into her vagina and rubbing her clitoris. The way his veins pulse against the dove tattoo on his forearm as he quickly pumps three fingers in and out of her is so hot. She moans softly and squeezes his hardening cock while they keep making out and he massages her bare ass. Her nipples are getting pert again and the familiar wetness down below becomes stronger. She orgasms not once or twice, but three times in a row. "Ay dios..." she gasps out when they take a few minutes to breathe. Their eye contact is so intense and she loves how horny they always are for each other. He goes on to suck on the side of her neck. "I gotta work on my erotic novel, you naughty unicorn! It's almost done, and my editor's waiting. She really wants to get off by Monday. Her vibrator's not enough, apparently."

"Go ahead, mi sprite sucia. Can I read your porn when you're finished?"

Blanca slips into her light blue negligee and gives him one last peck on the forehead as they hold hands. "¡Sí, guapo! We can fuck again." She heads out, then poses alluringly by the doorway. They dramatically blow each other a kiss and then she bites her thumbnail while giggling as she exits the room. She sits in front of her computer on their couch in the living room and puts her headphones on so she won't be distracted when he's playing his drums and video games. Even though he does it so softly that she can barely hear it, she likes total silence while she's writing. She's so glad that her hobby had turned into a legitimate career.


At the support group, a young black woman in her twenties is talking about how giving her testimony against her child molester was so difficult for her. The ten other ladies in the room-including Gloria, Diane, and Aleida, look at her with sympathy. "I'm so ashamed...I cried in court and I couldn't finish my statement, so my friend had to do it for me!" She sniffles. "He completely had me fooled when I was thirteen, I thought he was actually my mentor..."

"I know, it's hard, but you don't need to blame yourself! It's never your fault," Gloria consoles her.

"I had a similar experience," Diane says. "When I saw the monster who tried to sexually assault me twenty-nine years ago, he was in an orange jumpsuit and just...staring at me with contempt. Super creepy, because unbeknownst to me, he used to watch me in the shower, too-until he was caught in two-thousand five. I thought I could keep my cool because it had been almost two decades since the traumatic event, but I started having a panic attack as the dreadful memory of almost getting raped came back to me, so Charles, my husband, had to go up there and hold me. He led me back to the pews and I sat between Gloria and Aleida, sobbing. Charles ended up telling the judge what happened to me. Joe Morello's been in prison for a long time now, he can't hurt me or another girl or woman again."

"Oh, that's good...I hope I can heal from this like you seem to have. Do you still get nightmares?"

"From time to time, yeah. With a lot of counseling and support though, it's become less frequent," Diane murmurs.

"It's like we got a whole new life now!" Aleida exclaims. "You gonna get through this, honey."

Gloria squeezes her fellow survivor's hand in solidarity. "Mm-hm, I know it's tough at first, but give it time. It took me a solid few years to be convinced that my man was the one after only being abused for two months by my ex, who's rotting in Hell, muchas gracias."

The lady smiles. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," the three leaders respond in unison.


"So, not only do I plan the best weddings, but I'm also an advocate for immigrants, along with Shani here!" Flaca exclaims as she and her friends dance and drink Long Island iced teas together at Gloria's bachelorette party. They're all wearing dresses in pastel colors such as coral, baby blue, lavender, yellow, peach, mint green, and light pink. The bride-to-be is the only one wearing white. It's also what she'll be wearing with Fahri the first night they dine in France on their honeymoon.

"Yaaaay! I know, it's awesome helping people, isn't it?" Shani hollers over the pounding music.

"Yeah!" Flaca throws her head back and cackles. "Lo siento, but I'm like, super drunk right now!"

"Me, too!" Tricia squeals as Mercy dips and kisses her. The younger woman's hair is dyed magenta and she no longer wears her signature braids that often. "I'm twenty-one and can get legally buzzed, Ma doesn't say nothin', and it's my first time, too! I've had some before at high school and college bashes, got in deep shit with Ma, but it wasn't as fun as it is at this moment! I fuckin' threw up in the toilet at age sixteen, but look at me now, sisters, I'm a pro!"

Blanca swirls her hair all around her as she dances crazily. "Whoo-hoo!"

"You mean you didn't go to a nightclub the minute you turned twenty-one? Yeah, right, Trish! Your besties are like, all older than you...I'm more surprised that Nicky didn't take you to the Sparrow Tavern," Alex comments with a beer in hand. She lightly hits Nicky's shoulder with the back of her hand. "What the fuck, dude? You love to spoil your kid sis..."

"Nooooo," Tricia slurs before Nicky can answer. She rests her elbow on her fiancée's shoulder. "I did! Mercy, Nicky, Shani, Lida, Neri, Grace, Allie, and I all went out for drinks! I just meant it was the first year that I can buy alcohol without having to send in Nicky to get it for me at the store. I don't gotta sneak around anymore!"

"Coooool!" Maritza giggles loudly. "I'm soooo glad that mi hermana was able to babysit mi mariposita and Karla's chiquitos tonight."

my little butterfly

"Me, too!" Blanca takes down her red wine, emptying her glass. "She's finally there for you!"

Karla points at her as her eyes widen. "Both of us, really!"

"Yeah, I never even knew about her until senior year of college, and we just started getting close! Apparently, she was disowned by our dad at age twelve for bein' a lesbian, so he kicked her out while my mom was kidnapped when I was a baby. They divorced as soon as she was rescued with me in tow. She never told me because it hurt her too much. My big sister kept tabs on us all these years via Facebook, but never reached out because she was afraid Mamí would turn her away, too. She contacted me on Instagram when I changed my profile picture to me and Flaca kissing and posted photos of us with the hashtag love my wife so much...I'm guessing she thought I'd accept her since I'm with a woman, and it took me time to really believe her story, 'cause she was a stranger and all, but after asking my mom dozens of questions, we picked her up at the airport and she's been livin' near us ever since!"

"Oh, wow, that's a lot! Shame she's missing out on the bachelorette party, though, there's some attractive single ladies here!" Gloria's oldest daughter Ceci states.

"Yeah, like me!" Flaca's old friend Cat exclaims.

Elena bounces on the balls of her feet and smiles. "This is amazing...reconnecting with my mom, so I can imagine how your sister must feel, Mari. I can't believe we really fell for our dad's tricks. To Mamí's complete surprise, Lourdes gave him a good scolding, she was my Spanish teacher, and Ma worked at Martin Van Buren...she'd always be friendly and try to make conversation when serving us, but we were so rude to her at first...we had to do Lourdes a favor and be on friendly terms with Ma. Oh my, how we've grown!"

"We thought she was a bitch who left us, it was Rodigo's fault, not any of ours," Ceci mutters. "Don't feel too bad, Ellie."

"I try not to."

"Who's watching your little pipsqueak Isla?" Nicky wonders aloud.

"Not her father, that's for sure." Elena rolls her eyes. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it? I'm not the best at pickin' em, just like Ma...until she found Fahri." Her eyes pass over Lorna, Martiza, and Flaca. "I will thank you forever for matchmaking them. She seems really happy."

"You're welcome!" they chorus.

Gloria is currently being spun around by Aleida as Margarita bumps and grinds them both playfully. Diane cheers as she throws confetti at them. The four older ladies cackle as it rains on their heads and shoulders, finally settling down by their feet.

"Anyway, Isla's babysitter is one of our best friends, Grace Warren! She's also looking after Armaria, Lucy, Eva, and Katie. Farah's helpin' her out. Mamí says nobody under the age of fourteen is allowed in here. She's the boss!"

Tricia points to herself proudly. "I totally knew that!"

"Oh yeah, I forgot!" Nicky bonks herself on the forehead. "Silly me."

"You have a lot on your plate with the drug counseling sessions you lead," Shani murmurs understandingly and kisses her wife's cheek.

"Yep!" Nicky gazes up at her lovingly. "Helping folks with their smack addictions can be especially challenging, but my past inspired me to major in Psychology and get a career to steer others off that same dangerous path, so it's all worth it. I could've been a lawyer, too, because I was a star in my debate class, but assisting people before they even reach the point of needing an attorney because they were doing drugs, is a better option. Tonight, though, we can just relax!"

"Agreed! I'm so glad my co-worker was able to take over my shift at the hospital tonight. Being a nurse is fun, but it tires me out, too!" Lorna says, rolling her shoulders back a few times. Instead of wearing her hair in her usual forties era style, she has it flat-ironed with bangs straight across her forehead. Both she and Flaca wear less makeup nowadays, except for special occasions such as this one. They prefer natural looks.

"Isn't Daisy the sweetest?" Maritza asks rhetorically, but Lorna nods anyway. "I ain't usually friends with people who you girls share a job with, but she's a good one. I actually hooked her up with Darius! He deserves a nice chick."

Flaca laughs and high-fives her. "That's super fantastic, yo!"

"¡Graciaaaas!"

"I was thinkin' about what you said back there, you mentioned the possibility of being a lawyer," Blanca tells Nicky. "If I didn't write erotica, I'd probably be like the Latina Ally McBeal."

"I think you got more Matlock in you," Karla interjects, and both Blanca and Nicky grin at this.

Daya comes over to them with her brown hair cut and curled on both ends. She also has blonde highlights and is wearing a gold, shimmery gown. Besides her is Maria, who's in red with her locks down and wavy. Ten years had given everyone time to cool down from what she did, but they of course forgave Blanca quicker than they did Maria. "Okay, just finished assisting my sister and Michaela with ordering their drinks. They're only allowed one each, like us when we were their age. Yo, how y'all doin'?" Daya asks.

"All right! Just catchin' up. So, how's being a comic book artist and a dental hygenist?" Karla wants to know.

"Fun!" Daya responds. "I love to draw and make money for it!"

"Although sticking my fingers in human beings' mouths is weirder than I thought it'd be, it's always been my dream job to make people's smiles better, so it's great!" Maria chimes in. "How about, you, Karla, did Diane mind you taking over her English classes?"

"She said I was the best replacement ever." Karla grins. "She knew she was getting burned out the minute she changed Lorna's grade."

"I was suffering from senioritis and Diane felt bad for me!" Lorna further explains. "She got away with it, though, even after confessing to Caputo...but then she quit and took on papers to mark when exams came around."

"Plus, she's the new manager at Friendly's, is an awesome advocate for survivors, and Charles' secretary at the police station!" Alex says. "Lorna, making you get an A-minus when you could've failed English entirely, that's when we knew she wasn't really teacher material, she was just too generous!"

Lorna cackles. "Yeah! I can not believe you live in New York City now, by the way."

"Quite a step up from Queens, that's for sure!" Alex exclaims. "Managing Diablo's band and being the owner of the new local record store pays well!"

Michelle nods, beaming. "I'll say! A barista at Starbucks doesn't make as much, but it's fun and if I need another job eventually, I'll get one. Gramercy Park is amazing so far, we got two bedrooms, hardwood floors, two bathrooms, an office, a guest room, and a gym in the building!"

"Whoa, cool!" Blanca comments, and the others concur.

Flaca notices Jazmina dancing with Aleida. "Yo, D, if that's y'all's cousin Yas, I thought she would've been with your daughter and your baby sisters!"

"She preferred to come to this instead," Daya informs her. "Gloria invited her, so..."

"Neat! Hey, let's talk about Yearning for Passion! I know I'mma love it, so is Taystee! We both live for that shit." Flaca smirks and waves Taystee, Poussey, and Franziska over. "Chicas, we just discussin' Blanca's lusty writing in her book."

Blanca smiles and blushes at the mention of her porno. "Oh yeah, you'll put every erotic novelist to shame, fuck them, Blanca Zuniga is in the house!" Taystee whoops. "For real, I'm so lucky to be your editor!"

"I can't wait to read it," Poussey murmurs.

"Really? It's about a straight couple, darling...based on the author and her hubby's sex life," Franziska points out.

"You don't know that!" Blanca insists strongly, but her face is turning redder. "So what if it is, I get my ideas from making mad love with my man. Except that it's a slow-burn romance, which didn't happen with mi Diablo y yo."

"Well, hold up, T, when you were Suzanne's unofficial editor, you hated her erotica," Poussey mutters. "How is this any different?"

"Real people fucking is my thang, not weird-ass aliens from outer space! Hers was too strange, but Blanca's is like, damn hot!" Taystee responds. "You know the difference, P, you've read 'em all!"

"Yeah, but I thought of Suzanne's characters as supernatural beings, but they just happen to have different parts than we do."

"It's not relatable!" Karla bursts out.

"Lo siento to say this, but Blanca's writing flourished, while Suzanne's did not!" Maritza giggles. "She's a better actress."

"Yeah, I'm glad she got over her stage fright," Taystee comments.

"Me, too," Maria and Lorna chorus and the rest of the young women agree.

Taystee looks around. "Damn, this room, I'm hella diggin' it!"

"Yaaaassss!" everyone cheers.


"You ever sat back and realized how much you allowed yourself to suffocate at one point in time because you were too kind?" Gloria asks. She loves how good her life is now.

"Oh, hell yeah. Yo, I just thought of this...Glo, me and you finally got the one after three losers!" Aleida realizes aloud.

"Fuck yeah! I'll drink to that!" Gloria downs the rest of her piña colada and her friends do the same before laughing hysterically and starting in on Cosmopolitans. "We gettin' lit in here!"

"Hell to the yeah!" Diane hollers.

They've moved to the outside of the building and they're enjoying the warm evening while having cold beverages. "Thanks for my bachelorette party, chicas." Gloria had decided not to have a maid of honor since she didn't want anyone to feel bad or be jealous. However, she has her two daughters Elena and Ceci, and her very best friends as her bridesmaids-Aleida, Diane, Red, and Theresa. Isla and Juliana are going to be her extra cute flower girls.

"You're welcome," everyone choruses.

"Cheers!" Pennsatucky, the bartender, yells out, raising a bottle of beer behind the counter. Boo clinks it with her own and then they guzzle.

The party lasts until about two in the morning and the over-twenty-one guests-with the exception of Debbie-are drunk out of their minds. They all need to call cabs to get home. Gloria and her bridesmaids sleep over at Sophia and Crystal's house since it has a second floor and is big enough for all seven of them.

She starts packing her suitcase for France and as she folds her red silk lingerie, she remembers her and Fahri's first time.

As they snuggle under the stars on their fire escape that late summer night, the yearning Gloria and Fahri have for each other is so clear. He's been extremely patient and slow with her and after two and a half years, she's finally okay with him seeing every part of her. She sent the children to the McDonald home for a very particular reason.

"Ohhh, you wanna get down and dirty, don't 'cha? You wanna fuck!" Aleida had teased her. She'd just smirked and thought of all the ways she could get him in bed. Twice before, she had chickened out, but she promises herself she won't this time.

"Look how lovely it is tonight, but not as much as you." He plays with her fingers and kisses her palms and the insides of her wrists.

Gloria laughs and rolls her eyes. "Quit bein' corny!" She runs her tongue along her bottom lip seductively and then bites it while gazing up at Fahri lustfully. She strokes his goatee and sensually molds her mouth with his as her fingers clutch the nape of his neck. He caresses her hair continuously, kisses her back with fervor, his teeth capturing her lower lip, and then their tongues practically do the waltz. "Fahri, please..." she whispers through their combined moaning as she trails her hand down his chest hair over and over. His skin is so warm. "Make love to me, querido."

He pauses. "Really? You sure, baby?"

"Sí, mi amor." She puts her legs across his knees while trying to scoot closer to him, needing to be in his lap. "Mm-hm. It's time. I know I backed out before, but I've been ready for quite a while now...we just haven't had the chance lately! Good thing Lei and Leon were able to take the kids tonight. Por favor, just touch me...you don't have a shirt on, lemme take advantage of the situation!"

Fahri grins, gathers her in his arms, and pecks her temple. "I do have a deep longing for you..." He hoists himself up and she stands, too. "Shall I carry you to the bedroom?"

"Bridal style?" Gloria asks hopefully.

"Of course, beautiful!"

She squeals and kicks her legs once he picks her up and starts walking to their destination. After gently setting her on the bed, Gloria lays there with her strapless yellow summer dress and her hair splayed out around her. She twirls her locks around her fingers as he places himself beside her and begins intimately kissing and tenderly sucking on each part of her exposed skin, leaving a pleasurable sensation behind. She concentrates on breathing steadily; she can't believe their moment has finally come. "Ohhhh...ohhhh..."

"You're so pretty," he murmurs, sliding back up next to her and holding her gaze. Fahri cups her face in his hands, leans into her, and kisses her lips, then her forehead, and then her lips again. She smiles widely into it as he skims his knuckles along her jawline. "I can't stop staring into those enthralling eyes of yours..."

"Gracias, you're hella guapo yourself, babe!"

"Thank you! Hey...you down starting with foreplay?"

"Definitely! This needs to come off...just to warn you, I have awful injuries that never went away," Gloria mumbles as she tugs the cotton material down to reveal her satin-covered breasts. Closing her eyes, she continues to strip, but he stops her. "What? Don't you wanna see me fully naked?" She grins at him and looks down self-consciously. Her smile fades and she glances back up at him.

"Yes, but first..." Fahri puts his hands on her hips and presses his lips to each of her pink and red scars and burn marks that are further down her cleavage and all over her belly, taking extra time to concentrate on every single one of them. "I wanna take the sight of you in."

"Am I ugly?" she asks vulnerably.

"Not in the least, sweet girl." He traces over a few stretch marks and kisses those. "I can see where you have been treated horribly, but that doesn't make you undesirable. I want to bring you so much pleasure and I promise to never do any of this to you. My heart breaks at it. If you wanna quit, just tell me, okay?"

"I know you would never dream of hurting me," Gloria says. She arches her back so she can get out of her dress and Fahri helps her by sliding it down her legs and off her feet. She's just in a neon purple satin lace bra and matching panties now. Even though she's exposed and halfway under him, she doesn't feel threatened in the least. He's being so calm, considerate, and loving.

"Oh, honey..." he breathes out. His mouth stays on the marred, discolored spots on her thighs that signify trauma in those areas. "You're so attractive..."

She removes her bra and flings it across the room, making sure it doesn't hit the lamp and knock it over. Then, she scoots out of her panties and kicks them off of her. "Here I am. Fully in the nude..." Her cheeks heat up and she's so sure she's blushing furiously.

"There you are, pretty as a picture!" Fahri leaves a lovely trail of kisses from her forehead, her cheek, her chin, her neck, her shoulders, the length of her arms and legs, all the way down to her toes. "I'd seriously paint you, but it would only be for us...if you were cool with it."

"In a very private part of the house, sure...I'd be happy to pose for ya!"

He massages her breasts and sucks on her already hardened nipples. She moans softly and opens her legs just a bit wider. "Oh my God, Fahri...my pussy, please...get my center...I'm all wet..." She tenses at the thought of his fingers inside her and then relaxes.

"Patience, darling...I'll take such good care of you, I swear..."

Her heart is beating so hard it feels like it'll fall out of her chest. His voice is so hot and his softness toward her is making her a puddle on the floor.

After decorating her from head to toe with loving pecks for what must be the third time, Gloria sighs blissfully and giggles as he worships her entire body like she's fragile. His hand inches toward her vagina. She mewls as his calloused fingers enter her and touch her core just right.

"Oh..." she moans quietly while closing her eyes. "Ohhh...aaaaah..." She gets gradually louder with each second that passes. She gasps in and out rapidly as his delicate, slow strokes become fast, causing more juice to spill from her sensitive lady bits and onto his fingers, which is so hot. "Ay dios mío, Fahri, the things you d-do to meeeeee! Ohhhh! Yesssss! Ohhhh!" she's shrieking through her powerful orgasm. "Keep goin', I'm gonna-aaaaah! Aaaaaah! Yes, yes, yes!" It's been too long since she's had mindblowing sex-and his cock isn't even plunging into her yet. This is a weird feeling, but she loves it. He's the best she's ever had if she's perfectly honest with herself. "Fahriiiiii! Ohhhhh!" They make out heavily as she squeezes his wrist with her thighs and bounces up and down, rubbing herself around his hand. She massages his boner that's firm under his black shorts.

"You enjoying this, Glo?" His question is muffled by her lips on his.

"Yessss!" she screams. "Oh, God, fuck yeah, baby! Mmmm..." She slowly calms down from her high. "Can I climb on you? So you can penetrate me?" Gloria asks shyly.

"You most certainly can, dear!"

"Lemme just check that the condom is in good shape..." Gloria plucks it out of her nightstand drawer and inspects it. "Yeah, looks awesome! No holes o nada!"

"All right! That's excellent!"

Gloria slides it on Fahri's stiff shaft and then she lifts herself up to sink onto it. At first, it's not the greatest, but they eventually get into it. "Holy fuck, I want you so bad..." she murmurs.

"You've got me, dear. Always," he tells her as they rock together repeatedly until both of them explode with lust. She melts into his arms and then they cuddle until they fall asleep together.

She absolutely can't wait for their honeymoon.


"Hey, time to wake up! It's your wedding day, Glo!" Red nudges her and she rolls over, groaning.

She glares at the sunlight glinting through the window. "It's too fuckin' early." Gloria's holding on tightly to her covers.

"I know, but we gotta get ready, it starts at four!" Theresa exclaims.

"Yeah, and I'm doin' everybody's nails, chop-chop!" Aleida claps. "I'mma bring cookies...and regular nails are twenty-five to thirty dollars, and if you get gel, you gotta pay forty to fifty bucks. I got twelve colors Imma use."

"I need to do your hair soon!" Sophia adds. "Crystal's makin' breakfast, she don't wanna wait..."

"Let me sleeeeep," Gloria mumbles. Her eyes are barely open. "I'm so comfy...and I love these pink walls...let's just stay inside until ten..."

"Alright, on the count of three," Elena snaps, exchanging a smirk with Ceci. They snatch the cover and blankets off their mother and laugh victoriously as Gloria lets out a cry of frustration.

"Really, it's eight in the morning! We're all exhausted...we fell into bed close to three!"

"We'll get over it," Ceci lets her know. "Café's gonna help. We woke you up last 'cause you're the bride."

"Mm-hm, and you can sleep in tomorrow with Fahri and be toasty warm in bed," Diane reminds her. "He's rich enough to order room service, or you can get breakfast late."

Reluctantly, Gloria stretches, yawns, and rubs her eyes clear of sleep. After she washes her face, she stands in front of Crystal and Sophia's long mirror and gets dressed in neon pink capris and a casual white tank top. The women have coffee to feel more energized and then they go to Aleida and Sophia's beauty salon to get their hair, makeup, and nails done. They'll get dressed in the bathroom of the church and they all decided to have their 'dos be down and curly.


Classical music plays as the guests fill the pews. Most of them are in solid, bright, neon colors, except Maritza and Pennsatucky, who are wearing royal blue and Flaca, who's in magenta.

"'Sup, Amanda!" Poussey greets Taystee as she sits down next to her best friend. Her wife, Franziska, is on the other side of her.

Taystee winks at her and grins. "Mackenzie."

Next to them are Alison, Hassan, Farah, and Aleida's son Emiliano. Then, there's Christina and Benny, who are now a couple, and Adarsh, Daya, Armaria, Eva, and Lucy. Behind that group are Weevil, Karla, her sons Benji and Abel, Blanca, Diablo, Nathan, Pennsatucky, Nicky, Shani, Flaca, Maritza, Margarita, her husband RJ, her daughter Anna, and his friend Trance, who seems interested in Taystee. Sophia, Crystal, her pastor boyfriend, and Michael are in the back, along with Anita, Rosa, Norma, Frieda, Bone, Claudette, Odette, Jean, Maritza's mother Juliana, her husband, Nicky's Uncle Ray, Aleida's cousin Jazmina, Flaca's younger brothers Marco and Pedro, and Poussey's parents, Lila and James.

Alex is on the other side of the aisle and seated with her wife Michelle, her baby sister Ashley-Katherine, and Tricia, Mercy, a very pregnant Debbie, Nita, Lorna, Vinnie, his little brother Gino, Boo, and Red's other son Maxsim. Maria, Yadriel, and their ten-year-old daughter Pepa are a little ways behind them, along with Julio, his boyfriend Laronne, Cat, and Michaela, who has become close with Maria and frequently babysits Pepa. Franny, her husband Jack, and their four-year-old son Tommy are also there with Lida, Vasily, and their small children Kolya and Vera. The littlest kids-those under five-are sitting on their parents' laps. Alex and Katie's parents, along with Daya's and Flaca's, are in the ceremony. Celeste is in the front row beside where Lourdes is going to be and opposite them, are Fahri's parents and his sister.

The wedding march begins and Maritza claps her hands in excitement. "Ooooh, it's starting!"

Flaca and Lorna squeal as everyone turns in their seats to watch the wedding party appear. First, it's the bridesmaids and groomsmen. They're almost all paired up-Aleida and Leon, Diane and Charles, Red and Pavel, and Theresa and her new boyfriend and Red's oldest, Yuri, in that order. Each couple links arms as they stroll to the altar. Elena and Ceci walk slowly after them, guiding Isla and Juliana down the aisle as the little girls scatter red, pink, and white flower petals all around. Sister Jane Ingalls is officiating the ceremony. Fahri is grinning and waiting for Gloria and Leon pats his back as he takes his spot next to the groom. Opposite them, Aleida and Diane exchange an eager glance. The men are all in tuxes with dark red ties and black shoes to match the ladies' strapless dresses and high heels. The tiniest humans are wearing bright red, ruffly dresses, white tights, and Mary Jane shoes with black bows in their hair.

When Juliana and Isla are finished with their jobs, Elena leads them to where Maritza and some of her friends are sitting. Isla scampers ahead-at three, she's very active-while Juliana simply tugs on her mother's skirt and Maritza scoops her up and snuggles her. Flaca plays with her tiny fingers and tickles her tummy as Elena returns to the altar where her sister is standing.

Isla points at them while climbing up to squeeze between Blanca and Diablo. "Mama and Tía Ceci are bootiful! I got the pretty one, too!"

"You sure did, bebécita," Blanca tells her sweetly and then touches her cheek fondly. Diablo ruffles her hair and she giggles while ducking.

Juliana sucks her thumb, wiggles, and squirms, but Maritza doesn't let her daughter go. She bounces Juliana up and down on her knees and shushes her. "Jesus, mija, nooo!" she groans as Juliana pulls on one of her hoop earrings.

"¿Puedo abrazarla?" Flaca points to Juliana slightly and Maritza nods gratefully. She hands her baby to her wife and to prevent the baby from pulling on her hair, Flaca pushes it back as she takes Juliana.

Can I hold her?

"¡Gracias!"

"¡De nada!"

So, this is the penultimate chapter...brace yourselves for the finale ;)